Mantis owners?

[ramsey]

Any mantis owners here? I'm buying a 29g Biocube tonight and plan on putting a peacock mantis in it. Just seeing if anyone else has them. If you do, what do you feed and how do you like 'em?

My other option is an angler but the wife really likes mantids.

[hobogato]

if you do that, at least put some acrylic or hdpe under the sand as they are strong enough to break glass with their clubs when they get bigger, and the likely glass they would break would be the bottom while burrowing. don-in-sa used to have a big one in a 58 gallon tank for a long time, and we had a 4" one for a while in a little acrylic tank. they are really cool, interactive critters. if you do a search, you may come across some of donny's old pics

[ramsey]

Yeah, I've researched them for a while. Most of the information I have found about glass breaking seems to be more of a myth than anything. I know they can break glass but it seems to be very rare. I do want to put something under the sand. I was thinking either some egg crate or acrylic. It's gonna be a while before I get one. The deal with my Wife was I could get the tank but I have to finish setting up our big tank and put wood floors in our room. :P Can't wait to get one though!

[Jordan N.]

Yeah, I've researched them for a while. Most of the information I have found about glass breaking seems to be more of a myth than anything. I know they can break glass but it seems to be very rare. I do want to put something under the sand. I was thinking either some egg crate or acrylic.

I agree that you will probably be fine with a peacock in that tank for a good while. Once it gets up to 6 inches or so I might start to worry but will take a good 4 - 5 years. I would go with a sheet of acrylic on the bottom though --Egg crate isn't going to do much to deter a peacock if he wants it gone.

I don't have a mantis personally but from what I've read most people feed krill as the staple. (Optionally soaked in Selcon) Be sure that he does get some exercise his raptorial appendages --if they get too weak they can be lost in a molt. I would add a snail or hermit once or twice a month. Another option it to hold the food in your feeding stick and not release it until he strikes it a few time. I've also heard of people filling a snail shell with some mysis and letting the mantis go to town on it.

-Jordan N.