I have a small mantis shrimp in my nano

[daniella3d]

Hi,

a few months ago I found a very small mantis shrimp in a piece of liverock on a frag. I only had a 20 gallons tank then setup for quarantine so I put it in there and forgot about it.

A few months later, like 2 to 3 months, I set up a 15 gallons nano with 20 gallons sump and put the liverock from my 20 gallons in there. I never saw the mantis again.

But yesterday I saw it and it is about double in size. How big will it get? It was about 1/2" 3 months ago, now it is about 1". It is very hard to see because it hide in the liverock. I though it was dead because when I transfered the liverock I inspected it and I never saw the mantis!

I am just wondering with the rate of growing, from 1/2" to 1" in 3 months, will it become big or will it remain small? I would not want it to eat or harm my dottyback, is that a risk?

I could not take any pic, but it is a mantis for sure, 100% sure, since I saw it very well when I first got it. Here is a pic that show what it looks like: There is no mistake it's a mantis shrimp because of the eyes that protrude like on these pics:

http://www.aquaworld-crete.com/mantis_shrimp.jpg

http://www.churbuck.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/110808-1555-critterfrom2.jpg

[Aquattro]

Many of the typical brown and green ones will stay quite small. Maybe a couple of inches. But if the fish is small enough, it could be in danger. Keep it fed with mysis and it's less likely to go after the fish.

[The Codfather]

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/

Have a look, should be able to find it here.

[daniella3d]

I found a video that really looks like the mantis I have, same color and maybe a bit bigger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=begwA3NiCDg

I have read that only smashers live in the liverock and the spearer only live in the sand and rarely make it as hitchicker because of that, so I probably have a smasher. I guess they are much less dangerous for fish then?

[reefwars]

i wouldnt keep it after a while it becomes high maintanace and you get sick of keeping track of it and where it lives, you cant get small fish or burrowing fish either which becoes annoying.as the mantis gets bigger it looks at different food sources.

beautiful though, i had a g. smithi mantis i loved him he was an awesome pet kinda looks like your pic google it and maybe they are they same.if they are it will stay small:)

[reefwars]

I found a video that really looks like the mantis I have, same color and maybe a bit bigger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=begwA3NiCDg

I have read that only smashers live in the liverock and the spearer only live in the sand and rarely make it as hitchicker because of that, so I probably have a smasher. I guess they are much less dangerous for fish then?



still just as dangerous they are both super fast with theyre arms be it smasher or spearer.


if its a smasher you should be able to here it making its burrow:) should be a few small fast clicks in a row:)

[daniella3d]

I never heard any click, so either I was not there when it did it or it is not a smasher then, not sure.

still just as dangerous they are both super fast with theyre arms be it smasher or spearer.


if its a smasher you should be able to here it making its burrow:) should be a few small fast clicks in a row:)

[jagermaier]

Big or small mantis shrimp are opportunists and in my eyes evil. I wouldn't take the risk of leaving it in your tank.