60gal mantis tank

muck · #1 03-19-2007, 05:07 PM

The pics are small because you linked to the thumbnail version. If you right-click and use the url from the large pic it should post it in the thread as the large pic.

justinl · #2 03-19-2007, 07:08 PM

ahhh i see. okay ill do that from now on.

rudy · #3 03-19-2007, 08:18 PM

Justinl,

Very nice tank and very nice Smithii.

Just a word though, I have kept a few Smithii and find that they are less interactive in larger aquariums. I think a 5-10 gallon would do. Any more than that he may become "lost" in the environment. They are different in every situation, and yours may act differently. This is just my experience.

Depending on what your situation allows for I would ideally move your smithii to a smaller aquarium and keep on the look for a peacock. If that won't work then a smithii will be a great trading tool for a peacock.

Fish · #4 03-19-2007, 10:24 PM

Ya, most nano guys would kill for a smithii - and they seem to be tougher to come by. Of course you will probably be too attached to him to let him go.
Rudy,
What do you keep your salinity at for yours? My peacock tank is a 1.025 but I wasn't sure if that should be higher...

- Chad

rudy · #5 03-19-2007, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish

Ya, most nano guys would kill for a smithii - and they seem to be tougher to come by. Of course you will probably be too attached to him to let him go.
Rudy,
What do you keep your salinity at for yours? My peacock tank is a 1.025 but I wasn't sure if that should be higher...

- Chad

I honestly don't think they are that fussy as long as it is for the most part constant. I keep mine exactly where you are, however the only time they seem to be susceptible is prior to or during a molt. I would attempt to watch your water changes in those times. I swear this is how I lost my last one.

I personally think that you should keep mantis with corals. Corals are a good way to keep you informed on the water conditions in an aquarium. I ban test kits a long time ago though.....................

Fish · #6 03-19-2007, 10:37 PM

Cool thanks Tim. And I agree about the corals comment. One of the coolest things I ever saw was Ike sitting in the middle of my frogspawn - I would have called it 'hosting' but he only did it twice that I saw.

- Chad

justinl · #7 03-20-2007, 01:17 AM

yeah he hasn't come out that Ive seen. I do know that he has been out and about when im not around though because he had to get little chips of LR to seal up his burrow. I may relocate him to a 10-20gal nano after a bit of thought. Ill have to save up cash. Im thinking of making it a reef too but Ill only have beginners corals... i am still a bit of a noob in terms of experiece.

for inverts, mantids are unusually resilient. For best results, it's usually recommended to keep it on the high side (1.025) but they really don't care that much. Consistency is more important. In fact some people argue that they probably don't even need acclimatization (although i still do it anyways).

mantids and any other thing that molts are always their weakest during and after a molt. If they're molting and you spook it by just looking at it, it may die. It's happened before.

hehehe did you ever get a pic of ike "hosting" the frogspawn? That would be amazing.