a 10gal stomopod nano

[something]

(this addiction is getting crazy, someone stop me!....if not for my sake, then for my bank account)


Im relatively new to the saltwater scene, ive done a bit of research and have a few books, but i still lack experience so i wanna take it slow. I realize that its easier to take care of a bigger tank, but i dont want a massive eco system, just one animal: Im looking into getting a 10gal tank for a single mantis shrimp with some live rock (small). I realize that stomatopods need 4" or more of substrate to create burrows, so should i get a 10gal tall, or even a hex?

Im looking at a mantis shrimp becuase:
a.) they rule
b.) they're supposed to be increadibly hardy
c.) they can release their maxillipeds at the same muzzle velocity of a .22 rifle round (holy crepe)
d.) they rule
e.) they rule


Can i pull this off? (I have a friend living in my dorm who has had saltwater tanks since he was a kid, so any problems i run into i can generally turn to him)

any adivice or ideas would be great.

Thanks in advance

[wayne]

Yes, this is a good idea, and should make for a good display. You might want to go less sand, more live rock, and if possible get an acrylic rather than a glass tank as the glass in 10's is scarily thin.
Your other option, if you see them locally for sale is the same setup but with a matched shrimp goby/alpheoid shrimp setup.
There's a bunch of info on similar setups wetwebmedia.com

[S.Reef]

Yeah...Mantis Shrimp are cool. If you get one of the smaller species a ten gallon tank should be fine. However, like you said, some of the bigger ones can shatter glass. A thick tank made preferably of acrylic is waht you need. Mantis shrimp can be kept with corals...something you might want to know.

[1979camaro]

sounds fascinating...would love to see pics when you get it going

[fishdude07]

if i had a saltwater tank, mantis shrimp (aka thumbsplitters) would be at the top of my list for something to stock the tank with. i love them. they look awesome, and yes, they rule. id also love to see pics when you get the it going

[something]

Im thinking about getting a 8x8x8 acrylic cube for the tank, i think thats about 6gal. Should that be ok?

[wayne]

8 * 8 *8 =2 gallons in my book. Bit small i.m.o.

[something]

my bad, coppied the dimentions wrong.

which would be better?
10x10x10 (~5gal)
12x12x12 (~7gal)

i can special order either cube for really cheap (i didnt know how cheap arcylic tanks are!),

[1979camaro]

bigger is always better...size does matter

[oscarowner559]

yes it does...you dont wanna see a fish in the store you just cant resist, or one youve been looking for and not have room for it..that stinks..and also, fish like (and shrimp I would guess) more room to wander..the more the merrier