Mantis Shrimp 101

Not meant to be exhaustive, this video just covers some of the basic how-tos for setting up a mantis shrimp tank. If you're new to the hobby this might help you get some ideas together, but don't forget to visit the mantis shrimp forum on Reefcentral.com for more information!

[@idiotwilson1474]

you deserve more subs

[@DaniKenAquatics]

Very cool shrimp love this thanks for sharing just Subscribed

[@csaurex388]

Great video! I have a 32 gallon bio cube. I was wondering if that would be fine for a mantis shrimp or if I would need a 20 gallon long or even a 40 gallon long like you have.

[@nmotz06]

You can use a bio cube, but a 20L or 40B has more room at the bottom of the tank for them to explore.

[@brianduffyjr5921]

Very well done sir excellent information and perfectly executed set up. All the info I needed! Bigger planted Refugium would help with nitrate levels, I maintain my reef with zero nitrates using a 20g. Something cool I just recently tried, I have 2 turtles with 3 giant goldfish that overwinter in the house. 30g Refugium exits into a varying substrate filled five gallon bucket. Sand on top, crushed stone, peastone on bottom - helps polish the water. In the same Refugium, I have a net pot from a koi pond filled with growstones. Very porous, made from recycled glass, does nothing to pH. Multiple bubble stones in the net pot creates a super aerobic zone for beneficial bacteria. That tank maintains 0-20 ppm nitrates at all times. And I do admit to feeding them all more than generously

[@nmotz06]

Sounds like a nice setup you have. My nitrates seemed to be more a product of my HOB filter. Once I got rid of that the macroalgae and protein skimmer handled the rest. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@katarinamy7879]

Its cool to see you still being active in this comment section after years. I came here because i really really want a peacock mantis shrimp, and i recently got a saltwater aquarium ive been planning for, for months. I have most of the stuff need except fish, a bit more rock and the pvc fittings. Although as i got my tank i realized the bottom surface area was smaller than i thought, and while i have ideas for how to space out rocks for the peacock mantis to get as much space as possible while also having a good cave, im honestly worried if i have enough space for a peacock mantis... i want to get one, but i want the tank to be one it can be happy in. Thats why i havent set the scape up completely yet, as i wont get it if the tank bottom is too small. The tank is about 23 gallon and the bottom is 33 cm x 45 cm, id be happy to send you a picture also :) Do you think this is too small? do they grow all their life or is it possible for me to just get a smaller one?

[@nmotz06]

Katarina, I've seen people keep Peacocks in some fairly small tanks and in my opinion it's just more enjoyable, and ultimately easier, to have a slightly larger tank. I'd recommend a 30 gallon at least. When I return to this hobby some day, I'm going to have another Peacock mantis in a 50 or 60 gallon tank. One reason is because it is much easier to maintain a stable aquarium if it is a bit larger. Peacocks are not as finicky as some mantis shrimp, but they do benefit from stable parameters like most marine animals. They also grow quite large: up to nearly 7 inches in the case of some full grown males. Also, their foraging behavior diminishes somewhat in a small tank so it might not be as entertaining for you. They really like to hunt away from the burrow. If you go with a tank that small I'd recommend a different species. Neogonodactylus wennerae or N. oerstedii maybe? Gonodactylus smithii too. But having owned several of each of those species, Peacocks are the best in my opinion. Best of luck to you!

[@katarinamy7879]

@@nmotz06 Thank you for the response! i donthave the budget for a bigger tank sadly, for this reason i have been looking to get the Smithii because theyre smaller, but ive only had luck finding a couple on 2 american websites and none of which can ship to europe... If you know any that do though, or other ways to potentially get one, id definently go with one of those as they were my first option.

[@nmotz06]

@@katarinamy7879 Yeah the larger tanks can be quite expensive, I understand. I lived in Germany a long time ago and was able to find a Smithii at a local pet store, but they are more rare than Gonodactylus chiragra or Peacocks. Best of luck!

[@MrAqua-ei3mb]

Great video! I've always prefered glass over acrylic, but in this case I'm definitely going acrylic. Even if breaks are rare it's not something I want to risk. It's been shown that these guys can break through an inch of safety glass.

[@nmotz06]

I definitely don't think it's a bad idea to go acrylic with a large Peacock mantis or Gonodactylus chiragra. With the smaller individuals there's pretty low threat.

[@lvluxury]

Inch of safety glass! Doubt it, you have a link to the video? Cant find a video of a peacock breaking anything but thin 1mm glass from a beaker or microscope slide.

[@strider5119]

They can't break through an inch of safety glass. I've read up on these guys for the past 2 years before actually finding and getting one. They can break glass under 10mm thick, I've never seen anything to confirm otherwise.

[@ChandlerTingle]

So I have a 38 Aqueon Gallon Tank and I have a list of things that I have written down that seems to be needed. I wanted to get your opinion on what is needed and what’s not since I’ve seen you on ReefCentral forums but can’t create a account for some reason but it goes like this. -Aquarium 36in Length, 12in Width, 20in Height -Aqueon QuietFlow 30 HOB Filter -Protein Skimmer -Live Rock or Dry Rock -Substrate - Instant Ocean Sea Salt -Mantis Shrimp, Going to be a 4 inch Peacock Mantis Shrimp -Fritz Turbo Start 900 -Circulation Pump “Wavemaker” -Salinity Refractometer -Thermometer -Heater -Test Kit for the PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate -Ammonia Chloride -PVC pipe -Food -Is there anything that I should remove or add to this list from your experience. The one thing that I’m on the fence about is there a way to add 5 lbs of live rock and rest be dry rock so it doesn’t affect the cycle from the Fritz? The cycling is the 2nd nervous part of the process for me. -Where did you get those shells/rocks for the sandbed? -For Food, will they accept frozen foods and if so, do I have to spray the food with anything to reduce the risk of something bad happening? Apologies for the Long question(s)

[@nmotz06]

Chandler, sorry it took me a while to get back to you. That's a great list of equipment. You've put some thought into this and that's always a good thing. I had more success with dry rock because it helped me keep the cycle more predictable. Die off that occurs from live rock can sometimes prolong a cycle. But others have not had that problem so it's up to you. I still recommend testing each day until you can confirm the cycle is over before adding the mantis. Peacocks can get shell rot if you add them into an improperly cycled tank. I bought a bag of coarse grade sea shell/substrate and just hand selected the shells and pebbles that I wanted. I also broke some dry rock into small pieces with a hammer. I would not recommend any additives for frozen food except Selcon which is helpful. I would put the frozen shrimp in a small cup of water from the tank and add a few drops of Selcon and just let it soak for five minutes or so. Then I would feed and throw the cup of water/Selcon out to avoid adding too much into the tank at once. Ultimately, I recommend live food because it helps the mantis maintain more active behavior.

[@ChandlerTingle]

@@nmotz06 Appreciate the response. My last thing that’s been nagging at me is how thick should the glass be for a peacock? My tank is 1/4 thick and on the bottom it’s tempered.

[@Rockmash98]

Great video. Is it necessary to have a refugium for the tank?

[@nmotz06]

Slayer 101, thanks! It's not necessary to have a refugium, or even a protein skimmer. But I discovered that protein skimmer's are most effective for keeping a mantis tank clean. In terms of water quality, here is what I recommend: -stable salinity on the lower end of normal, ~1.023. No large water changes (recommend at most 20% every two weeks, preferably 10%) -low nitrates, less than 10ppm. In my experience, this is best controlled with a skimmer, but there are other ways. A refugium can sometimes help, but what helps the most is if you have a mantis all alone so you don't have to feed fish, who are messy eaters. -low-ish temperature, 78-79F -very high flow to oxygenate the water, recommend 50-70x turnover per hour Hope that helps!

[@Rockmash98]

@@nmotz06 this is so helpful man thank you so much. If I have a question I'll know who to ask. Thanks ❤️

[@Notinuse18721]

I’m thinking of getting a 25-30 gallon tank I’m not sure about live feeding and not to sure what I should feed if I get one and do they molt like crayfish and trantulas?

[@nmotz06]

Welcome to the hobby! They do molt, usually every 3-6 months depending on size. The small one molt more frequently. Peacock mantis shrimp enjoy live emerald crabs, and snails of all kinds plus small clams, brine shrimp or any other hard or soft shelled live food. I have fed live ghost shrimp in many occasions and they are like 10/$1 at most local fish stores. But frozen food is good too. They like frozen krill and I also feed freeze dried krill soaked in Selcon, a vitamin mixture for marine animals. Best of luck to you!

[@Notinuse18721]

@@nmotz06 thank you 🙏

[@cos9658]

Hi, you said that that was a 40 G breeder tank, i have one but, have been to scared to use it as an aquarium do to the risk of it breaking. Has is been relieble for you?

[@nmotz06]

Yeah a 40G breeder is a really ideal tank for practically any smasher-type mantis and has thick enough glass to contain even a very large Peacock. It's very, very rare for Peacocks to deliberately smack the tank glass repeatedly and a 40G breeder is well equipped to deal with random strikes. The tank in the video was an old, used tank and it was perfect. But just to be safe I always say to avoid "encouraging" the mantis to strike like some people do by running their fingers along the glass or something like that.

[@cos9658]

@@nmotz06 awsome thanks

[@nmotz06]

@Rye Bread only the largest Peacocks or very large Gonodactylus chiragra can damage a glass aquarium and mine was only about 4" at the time I broke down this aquarium. Other smaller species just don't have the strike power to break hard aquarium glass. It's a matter of personal comfort. Most Peacocks leave the sides and bottom of the tank alone, especially if they have a PVC pipe burrow. That said, some people tease Peacocks into striking the glass and that can be a problem.

[@litoloco4fish]

Nathan how often you do water change? Got it !!! Thank you

[@nmotz06]

I averaged about a 10% water change every two weeks but sometimes it was more like 5% and sometimes I waited 3 weeks between changes.

[@ludogienezever]

@@nmotz06 do you use regular tap water and mix it with salt or filter the tap water or buy the water at a shop?

[@nmotz06]

@@ludogienezever For this tank, I bought my own RO/DI filter from bulk reef supply and made my own salt water at home. I used instant ocean salt and another brand, Red Sea, later on in this tank's life. On previous tanks I used treated tap water and have also bought water at a fish store, but I highly recommend getting your own RO/DI filter. I found it to be much cheaper in the long run.

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

I've noticed with salt water aquariums that they're usually decorated with only coral or live rock. I want to have one with like a sunken ship statue, is that ok or will the salt water damage it somehow?

[@nmotz06]

I'm actually not too sure about that honestly. You're right that it is rare to see anyone use plastic/ceramic statues of any kind. At one point I had considered a "Greek temple" model but decided that I wanted the tank to look natural instead. Just make sure you have room for a good burrow. That is very important. Best of luck to you!

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

+Nathan Motz thanks man, my main concern is what if the salt water corrodes the paint or something and makes my mantis sick. Probably unlikely but I wanted to bring it up.

[@KlaxontheImpailr]

+Nathan Motz I got a tank set up :) the pet store said to let it run for a few days and bring in a water sample, then I can bring my mantis home.

[@idiotwilson1474]

just aslong as it's marine safe in other words, will the paint used peel off under salt water, if not it's ok

[@LJsReef]

Natural looks way better in my opinion. And the live rock is a natural biological filter also.

[@yakult9404]

How much time does it take for the mantis to reach full size?

[@nmotz06]

Depends on the species, feeding routine, and water conditions. This Peacock grew from just over 2 inches to nearly 4 inches in about 2 years. At that rate I feel like she would've lived another few years at least. But if you feed more, the animal will molt and grow more quickly. Also, I have heard that warmer water makes for a faster metabolism and higher growth rate. So if your water is on the cool side the animal will not reach full size as quickly. Other species generally grow pretty fast in my experience, especially at the rate they are usually fed in the home aquarium.

[@ShiftWins]

Do the mantis ever punch the filters ?

[@nmotz06]

Yep, she did that all the time!

[@troutmaskreplica5812]

how much would it cost to set up a 30-20 gallon peacock mantis shrimp tank?

[@nmotz06]

Depends on a lot of factors...it could cost $300 or $1000 depending on what type of equipment/brands/tank material, etc....I recommend you do the research on the individual items you want, but here's roughly what you'll need: -Glass/acrylic tank -substrate (reference the video) -PVC pipe -filtration, preferably a protein skimmer bc it's a Peacock tank -powerheads for water movement -heater -tongs for feeding -live rock -RO/DI, you need good water chemistry for a Peacock There are other "nice-to-haves" like an auto top-off system. But these are the basics. I also would strongly recommend getting a tank with a better footprint than a standard 20-30 gallon tank. There are 30 gallon breeder tanks out there that are exactly like a 40B just shorter. Otherwise I would recommend just getting a 40 gallon breeder. In my opinion, a 20 gallon tank is far too small for a Peacock, especially a full grown specimen. You won't enjoy it as much because they'll remain in the burrow a lot more (less space to explore). Best of luck to you!

[@troutmaskreplica5812]

Nathan Motz Ending up getting a smithii or a wennerae. So now going for a simple ten gallon thank you!

[@MustAgree]

would 6 mm (which is abit less then 1/4 inches) good enoufh for a 125 liter (33 galons) tank?

[@nmotz06]

@MustAgree I’m not sure I understand, are you asking about glass thickness? A 33 gallon tank is a good size for a Peacock, but I’d feel more comfortable with glass closer to 1/2 inches thick.

[@apartmentaquariumjunky7188]

Can you tell me brand on the hang on refugium you have going? just what I am looking for.

[@nmotz06]

It is the Finnex refugium and costs $27 from Amazon. I think I got the Stingray light to go with it if I remember correctly.

[@apartmentaquariumjunky7188]

Thank you

[@landonherrmann2641]

Where can you get one of these peacock mantis shrimp??

[@nmotz06]

I got mine from iBluewater but you can also find them at blue zoo aquatics sometimes. Otherwise you may have to ask your local fish store personnel if they can source one for you. Be careful though because many times they will get you a mantis shrimp that is clearly not a Peacock. Misidentification is common with mantis shrimp which is strange because Peacocks have very clear markings.

[@landonherrmann2641]

@@nmotz06 thankyou i have been doing my research and i am very excited to own one of these in the near future

[@nmotz06]

@@landonherrmann2641 Glad you are doing your research. That will really help you to be successful. Best of luck to you !

[@jjgibcasting5217]

How much does that setup cost

[@nmotz06]

Hmm, let me try to remember…. -$40, tank/light on craigslist -$20 substrate -$10 rock -$30 filter -$50 powerheads -$5 thermometer -$150 stand -$100 ATO -$15 PVC pipe This is all estimated as it’s been several years.

[@nmotz06]

and maybe $25 for the refugium

[@jjgibcasting5217]

Thanks great help👍🏽

[@sharkmusic9636]

I want to buy myself a new ~40 gallon tank with 6mm glass, a tunze 9004 skimmer, ato with rodi reservoir, 6000l/h waterpump, ~gallons of cycled water, living rock, a normal 12 watt led since i wont use anemone and a peacock mangis shrimp of course ;) The guy at my local fish shop told me if i keep the nitrates and phosphates right i could get along with 1-0 water changes a year... Is that true? Since if i have to do mire that 1-2 a year I would do the whole thing in the first place Can you please give me alot of information since here in germany wehave very little infos about mantis shrimp and saltwater tanks in general.... Also, how long can i let a mantis shrimp alone without food? Have a nice day!

[@nmotz06]

Thanks for your questions. I once lived in Germany myself and had my first Peacock mantis tank there. I would still recommend water changes at least once per month, but preferably once every two weeks. It's possible to do less but it takes a lot of experience. I think it's just easier to do the water changes. The tank looks more clean (less algae) if you do water changes too. Mantis shrimp are messy eaters because they smash their prey and also sometimes do not eat everything. What they leave behind rots in the tank. I would offer food at least once per week. The size of the food should be about the same as your thumbnail.. Try to keep your tank simple and don't feel like you have to worry about every small detail. Your equipment list sounds good and I think it will work for you. The skimmer will be very helpful. Enjoy having a Peacock, it's lots of fun!

[@sharkmusic9636]

Nathan Motz Dankeschön ;) Im gonna start saving monry now and when i work hardcmaybe have it together in 1/2 months Thank you for your help

[@sharkmusic9636]

Nathan Motz oh, how much water do you normally change?

[@nmotz06]

@@sharkmusic9636 My tank was 40 gallons so I usually changed about 3 gallons every 2 weeks.

[@sharkmusic9636]

@@nmotz06 well, thats ALOT less that i thought, this project might really play in my hands... on my 15 gallon freshwater tank i change around 6 gallons a week. i thought i would always have to fill up my bathtub and then change like 50 % every month... that is a real relief gonna` be the only one at my school with a mantis shrimp 😎

[@Mekratrig]

What do you feed him and how much does cost? Do you know what sex yours is, and does male or female do bettar in a tank?

[@nmotz06]

Hey Mekatrig, I always feed a mixture of live and frozen foods. The frozen foods are pretty cheap. I normally get a pack of frozen shrimp, krill, squid, or brine shrimp. I thaw it in a small cup of water from the tank then feed using a pair of tongs. I feed 2 or 3 times per week. Live food is more expensive, but it's important for their health in my opinion. I like to buy small emerald crabs (see some of my other videos) and brine shrimp, also small ghost shrimp. The mantis shrimp in the video was a female, and usually female Peacocks do better because they don't get shell rot as easily as the males. Shell rot is a disease that affects many Peacocks even in the wild. Hope that helps!

[@nitroussquezy5048]

how much would a 10 gallon tank with a mantis shrimp cost

[@nmotz06]

+Fading Flame that depends on a number of factors, but I'll do my best to give you a simple estimate: -- 5-10lbs of live rock costs anywhere from $40-$75 -- Tank will be about $10-$15 -- Substrate will be $15 or so -- You won't want to have a Peacock in a 10 gallon, but another mantis will cost you $60 or more online or maybe $30-$50 in a local store -- Hang-on-back filter will cost maybe $10-$15 -- Simple powerhead maybe $25-$30 --Total: $200-$250 for a simple set-up.

[@nitroussquezy5048]

ok :)

[@CronusandRhea]

You could have just filled it up with more sand and corral pieces. Burrowing animals need substrate like we need air, I own V. panoptes and they love to dig, take that away and they fail to thrive.

[@nmotz06]

Proper burrow space is definitely the most fundamental concern for mantis shrimp keeping, but it isn't quite as simple as just adding more sand/coral. The reason is because adding a very deep layer of substrate will eventually throw off water chemistry. Also Peacock mantis shrimp grow to over 6 inches in length and build fairly large U-shaped burrows in the wild. It would take a very large aquarium to replicate that environment. That's why Dr. Caldwell, a mantis shrimp expert recently retired from Cal Berkeley, recommends the use of PVC pipe for a burrow. But you're right, without some substrate to dig and a dark place to withdraw these creatures don't do well. I would never recommend a bare bottom tank for a mantis although I have seen some people make that work too somehow. Thanks for the comment!

[@CronusandRhea]

So a 6" little mantis shrimp needs more than a 40 long? Maybe some sort of predator tank with fisk that are piscavorous since these guys need a big tank. It seems odd something 6" would need such a large home being that its brain isn't even the size a varanid/reptile (what I keep). Do they need stimulation or are they less complex than they are being advertised on the Discovery channel?

[@nmotz06]

Not sure exactly how they are being advertised on the Discovery Channel, but here are a couple observations I made about Peacock mantis shrimp during my time keeping them as pets: -They are intelligent and very aware of their surroundings compared to most other aquatic animals of a similar size. Not sure how they compare with a varanid/reptile to be honest. I don't know that they "need" stimulation, but they respond positively to it. They are quite interactive and establish an actual bond with their caretaker. -They roam a LOT. Watch dive videos on youtube of mantis shrimp exploring. I would say they cover football fields worth of space per day in the wild. That's one reason I recommend a fairly large tank with a long footprint. The other reason is water chemistry. More water = more stability, and this species is more sensitive than most other mantis shrimp in this hobby. Honestly, there is no tank big enough for a Peacock, but what I've found is that those kept in small tanks generally are more reclusive and less healthy overall. A good, dark burrow and a decent amount of space to hunt are two core essentials to building a healthy environment for this animal.

[@thefrase7884]

Nathan ......great setup and very informative. Thank you. But please do not sacrifice cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp. As a fellow aquarist please take them out. There are far better things you can do with cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp then have them be an eventual meal for a peacock. Again you have a nice setup and I’m not being critical of you but please remove them

[@nmotz06]

Frase, thanks for your comment. I understand your sentiments, many people feel that way in fact. My thoughts are that in the wild this type of encounter - between a mantis and a cleaner/fire shrimp - would be relatively common so I don't view it as unnatural or a sacrifice. In this case they survived in my tank until the Peacock grew large enough and eventually killed and ate them both. It was interesting to me both that they could all coexist for a while and how my Peacock finally decided enough was enough. She was a carnivore par excellence! After she ate them I only introduced more shrimps on a much more rare basis because I quickly realized she wouldn't tolerate any other invertebrates. But yeah she killed coral banded shrimps, pistol shrimps, anemone shrimps, all kinds of crabs, etc... It seemed to me she grew more violent as she aged.

[@thefrase7884]

Nathan Motz ......Nathan keep in mind in the wild there is much more chance of escape compared to the confines of an aquarium......as a responsible aquarist you have to know that not all “in the wild “ encounters can be reproduced in the aquarium. Keep the mantis by itself. The way it should be in the aquarium.

[@nmotz06]

@@thefrase7884 Though I don't see things exactly the way you do, I thank you for your thoughts and will consider them in the future.

[@thefrase7884]

Nathan Motz ........and also talking about the wild. The shrimp are natural cleaners. Don’t see anything in there where they can provide this so what you have isn’t close to reproducing any close to the wild. Good luck with everything. Peace out

[@Subject__]

can we stop calling everything a "peacock"? it punches lets name it the Tyson Shrimp peacocks peacock bass peacock shrimp

[@nmotz06]

Haha, yeah that would be a great name for a mantis shrimp.

[@Subject__]

@@nmotz06 haha cool tank tho man! ✌✌