Mantis Set Up

Very nice We have several N. Wenneraes here. Check with an LFS that gets Florida Live Rock. N. Wenneraes are one of the species that are extremely common in Florida LR as hitch hikers. Mine was a rescue from a guys tank, where instead of killing it, he brought her back to the LFS where she was sold to me as an "assorted hermit crab". So ask some LFS if they carry or can order mantis.

Stomatopod.com is a really good company, that's where Bo came from about a month ago. He was 1 of 5 smithii they got in. I guess it's just hard for them to go out and collect/ship in mantis during the winter months. During the summer they normally have all sorts of specimens available.

 

I will check my LFS after i set up the tank, they have two 75s always packed with uncured Florida live rock just covered in life so maybe i'll get lucky. Makes sense that Stomatopod.com is a seasonal company ill check there when im ready.

I am super excited about this build, the tank is perfect since it fits right into the cornor of my desk and alittle mantis buddy would be great company while i write all my college essays for hours on end.

I am also killing two birds with one stone since the tank lighting can be upgraded with somthing like this
Small Aquarium Lighting: Mini Compact Bulbs
I am planning on doing some mushrooms and poylps in there. Nothing to fancy and expensive incase they dont make it but i've never been able to afford to go "reef" in my 65 gallon so i would like to keep atleast some basic coral.

Thank you for the ccritters.com recommendation also, looks like a nice site def gonna order some frags for the mantis tank and critters for my 65 not to mention my mantis if i cant get it at my LFS.

 

Show some pics when you got it all set up

 

heh my stepdads names Dana >,< lol lucky for him hes 6'7" LOL

 

you got it mantis...prlly pick up the tank in a week trying to save up enough money to cover all the supplies and stuff ill need so i can buy it all in one shot.

 

Dont wanna thread jack but can you put corals in with a mantis?

 

Soft corals- yes hard corals- no unless you don't care if they get chipped

 

Essentially, all corals can be kept with a mants. However, most mantis will re aquascape for you, no matter what. So if there's a coral in a place it doesn't want it in, it will probably not-so-gently relocate the coral. If you have some spare SPS frags and are willing to take the risk of them getting broken or chipped like mantis said, then by all means go for some SPS. Soft corals like xenia, shrooms, and zoanthids are no problem with a mantis. It's just, if the coral looks and feels like a rock, the mantis might treat it as a rock if it gets into decorating mode.