Potential mantis purchase (paging Bob)

[wonderloss]

The LFS near me has a baby mantis shrimp for sale. I have not seen it, because it is hidden in a rock. I will definitely look before I would purchase it. Before I get it, I want to make sure I have a proper set up for it.

What is the minimum aquarium size required for a mantis?

What sort of food would a very small mantis eat? Given the size of the rock it hides in, I am guessing it is around the size of a peppermint shrimp.

If I were to set up the aquarium using rock, water, and possibly sand from my established aquariums, would I have to worry about a large cycle?

What do you recommend for filtration? If I do 20% water changes each weak, could I get away without a skimmer?

[BEELZEBOB]

well theres no real gare-un-tee thats its not just a small mantis species.

the minimum tank size is relative to the species.

somewhere in the mantis shrimp club thread i have a q and a of the most common questions, and a good deal of links and other goodies.

dround youself in the mantis club thread

as far as skimmers go, a mantis tank is full of, carnage.

i attribute my succes to A LOT, of LR, sand and flow.

so, id suggest going above and beyond any common reccomendations for, LR, DSB and skimmer.

WC's are a must always. Im doin 2-3 gallons a week in a 18 gal.

[wonderloss]

Hmmm . . . I think I will have to hold off on this purchase then. Maybe in a year or two.

[Jason25]

Bob you would love the mantis I saw at my LFS last week, he was big he had to be all of 6 inches. I pointed to him to show my GF and he came out of the rock he was looking at my finger like, hmm now that's a snack.

[BEELZEBOB]

yea i was learned real quick not to "wiggle" my fingers in front of mantis'