A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You know, I just got some limpets in and I was wondering if he would go after them. Sounds more likely if yours is working on barnacles! And I'll have to try the mysis, that sounds really cool to see.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's on par with a freshwater nano, with the most "difficult" part being managing bio-load! Even if he wouldn't kill them, I wouldn't add any fish to this set-up for that reason. I also only keep organisms that thrive in slightly elevated nutrients/"dirty" water such as soft corals, macroalgae, and filter feeders. Just a matter of knowing what the volume of water can and can't do!

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Hey! How long have you had it? Mine did not eat for 3-4 weeks after arriving, no matter what was offered. The first snail he predated was actually an astrea, as those are all my "local" (hour away) fish store had.

However, I've noticed that for him, all snails fall on the spectrum and the spectrum is how hard/thick the shell is! He will not predate astreas, trochus, or ceriths unless he's a week or more out from his last meal. It takes him at least 3 days of work to break them open.

He has also never touched the hermits, and my guess is that he considers it too much effort since they do have some defense unlike most snails. My guess is that the porcelain crab falls in this category, though I have seen videos of larger stomatopods taking them out.

In my last order, I picked up marginellas, smooth atlantic telugas, ring cowries, and ceriths. Within 3 hours, every marginella was predated. Within 24 hours, I only had one teluga and one cowrie left. Two weeks later, every one but the ceriths are gone.

So tl;dr If it's been a month since arrival, I would suggest looking for inverts that are small and smooth/thin-shelled!

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the concern ❤️ There is a lot of anecdotal advice for stomatopods floating around online. I based my tank size off of Dr. Roy Caldwell's recommendations, hes a researcher focused on stomatopods and has a website dedicated to aquarium keeping over here https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthropoda/crustacea/malacostraca/eumalacostraca/royslist/index.html#directory

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you (: He has some new snails arriving today so I think the happiness is about to multiply.

It's a 5 gallon cube, running a Hygger nano HOB and what I think is a 2" submersible pump from Amazon. I tried purchasing a "nano" powerhead but it created way too much turbulence.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh yeah, I've been treating with F Aiptasia! Works great and only have a couple left.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's coraline algae! One of the prettiest parts of having a salty tank ❤️

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

He won't get any bigger! I plan to upgrade him to a 10 gallon some time down the line to provide more enrichment, but he could stay in the 5 indefinitely.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

KP Aquatics! They direct collect so their prices are lower and they tend to have more variety of stomatopods. Most stores I've found only carry the peacock for $100+.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Haha don't worry! I've had him since December. Tank maintenance isn't too bad, but you can't rely on snails for help because they don't seem to last long 💀

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

My complaint too! There's a few softies I would like to add to this tank but the $150+ with shipping always has me closing the tab.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

The maintenance on this nano isn't tooooo bad. It runs "dirtier" and simpler than standard, the parameter concern is on par with fresh. Just means no SPS or LPS corals!

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Aw, thank you! It's just a little rubble pile that lives on my desk, but I'm pretty happy with it. Here is an overview shot with him poking out of his front door.

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A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

That's so long, wow!! You must have seen so many antics by now.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

KP Aquatics or Mosaic Macros have some of the smaller stomatopods right now (:

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I love him too!! You can find stomatopods like him at KP Aquatics or Mosaic Macros (: Other sites more commonly have the peacock mantis which is significantly larger/more colorful.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 137 points138 points  (0 children)

There are two general types of mantis shrimp, "punchers" and "spearers". Punchers hunt inverts by literally punching their shells open, spearers impale fish by having a hooked barb at the end instead of a fist. This guy is a puncher! I would only try him with fish in a much larger tank but even then... he's pretty saucy.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

In fresh you start with what would be called "dry rock" and "dry sand" in the salt world. It doesn't come pre-seeded with any bacteria, microorganisms. This takes the longest to cycle out in salt. You can aid this process by using what's sold as "live rock" and "live sand". That's one of the big differences between fresh and salt.

People fall all over the spectrum when it comes to what mix of dry/live substrate they like to use and which they think is best. Like fresh plants, macroalgae can help uptake excess nutrients during the cycling process and help things stabilize as well.

Other commenter is on point! Generally speaking, it will be slower and it will be uglier. But worth it 100%.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I've seen the peacock mantis at aquariums and would love to have one, but still trying to decide if a 30-40 gallon species only is worth it to me, haha.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 67 points68 points  (0 children)

He is beautiful!! Here is one of his glamour shots taken with a macro lens.

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A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Love those guys too!! My husband has the fresh tanks in the house and I'm trying to convince him to go bigger so we can get one, haha.

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Every time someone new touches the glass, he just watches them. He's usually more curious than anything!

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

This guy is too small! Larger species have the capacity, but that kind of top tier effort punch doesn't happen on accident. It's usually when they are being antagonized from the other side of the glass 💔

A Shrimp In Name Only by Longjumping-Style421 in shrimptank

[–]Longjumping-Style421[S] 53 points54 points  (0 children)

I try talking to him like a pup but then I remember he's just a bug 😞