Will it work? (mantis shrimp companion)

O

orchidsnfish

My LFS has this "oh so cute" dwarf lion that Jeff really wants. He's maybe an inch and a half long and adorable. I dont think putting him in the 265 would be wise due to the fact that they are poor swimmers and he would likely end up going "down the drain." I would REALLY like to get this little guy but other than 2 tanks full of anemones (which could be hazardous to him) all I have is the 20 gallon with a mantis shrimp. My mantis is pretty chilled out and doesn't bang on much of anything and prefers his meals off a stick and honestly he's pretty boring. I would love to have the lion in there but wonder if the mantis would kill him. Any thoughts?

Angela
 
Depends on the type of mantis. What type is it? I've heard of many upper-level swimming fish such as chromis being kept with smasher mantis long term with no problems as long as the mantis is well fed. I'd be worried about a more sessile fish being kept in there. Maybe ask Dr. Roy over on the mantis forum at RC for a more difinitive answer than I could give you.
 
I wouldn't think you'd have a problem if both were well fed but like I said, you may need to go ask Dr. Ron about the matter as that's what he does. He's a biologist that works with Mantis. Good luck!
 
I wouldn't feel safe with a fish living in my mantis tank, but you've heard how rowdy mine is :shock: .
 
-got a peacock now.... wouldnt trust them with small fish, even free swimmers.... go to youtube and search mantis shrimp vs. chromis or anything and youll see one take out just about everything under the sun...
Ive kept one with damsels for a while - he took out a couple and the rest "wouldnt sleep" anymore....eventually 2 were left..... I put in 6 more and now three were left... I put in a MEAN cinnamon clown that was huge and he didnt touch him....
-it kinda depends....to the mantis - not you :lol:
 
I wouldn't feel safe with a fish living in my mantis tank said:
LOL. If mine acted anything like yours I would have never even considered a tank mate. Your mantis has some severe anger issues. I don't see how you get any sleep with her in the house. Must be a female thing. :D

Mine actually got a little rise out of me today. I was cleaning the tank (with a LONG pair of tongs) and he smacked the end of them when I wasn't paying attention. Scared me half to death as usual.

Maybe I should try one of the devil fish from the prop tank (damsels) before I consider adding a fish I like very much. JK for you damsel huggers...I actually get a kick out of watching the damsels act totally stupid and wouldn't really use them as guinea pigs. I respect anything that small with that much attitude.

Thanks for the replies.

Angela
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wel, even tho Im a "reef hugger" i do know that if you keep a snake its gotta have mice.... and if you have a lionfish you "start" it on ghost shrimp usually....
- I have seen a video of a green chromis tucking in front of a cave looking at the diver taking the shots - and BAM!- it split in two and didnt even bleed for a few seconds... ive also seen them "take" damsels without popping them, just "grasping" or snatching them outa thin air!!

-like I said tho - two got "smart" and they made it ...and then 3....so it IS possible...
"mythbusters" say
<hr class="bbcode_rule" />
> "plausable"
 
LOL. We are all "reef huggers" I think, but not necessarily "damsel huggers."

I hear what you are saying on the "snake gotta have mice", but even harlequin shrimp freak me out. I think they are so awesome, but wouldn't buy them because I don't want to watch them torture starfish.

Honestly, a lion, especially one that small, might be a "sitting <u>DUCK </u>" for the mantis. He wouldn't have a chance of getting away. It stinks though because he really is a cutie and Jeff isn't going to let me rest until he has his dwarf lion.

Angela
 
you like orchids and fish by your name and you say you like mantis...
-heres an "orchid mantis" using KunG-FOOOooooo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo6xt3uUsaQ

OK...I know its gross...there is a movie of the mantis "missing" the dragonfly....
 
Ewww!!! I hate those types of mantis. They creep me out. My skin is crawling after watching that video. I used to have nightmares about those bugs (except they were huge)! Probably will have them again after watching that!

Sitting Duck? LOL. I know you didn't mean it said:
LMAO. Why does your spelling ALWAYS have to go bad when it REALLY makes a difference??? My cheeks are burning! :oops: :oops: :oops:
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@Neptune1 wrote:
you like orchids and fish by your name and you say you like mantis... -heres an "orchid mantis" using KunG-FOOOooooo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bo6xt3uUsaQ OK...I know its gross...there is a movie of the mantis "missing" the dragonfly.... said:
That's an awesome mantis! My daughter caught a garden variety green mantis last year that laid 5 egg cases before she passed away. We have so many wee mantids now, we don't know what to do! I should have started a garden this year like I had planned to as we certainly have an army of pest controllers.
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He does blend in with the orchid VERY well. Pretty cool looking bug. They still give me the creeps, but they are neat. Bugs have to be the only living things as cool as saltwater fish and inverts. They have awesome camo too!

Angela
 
Yeah...so are orchids. You should get a few. They looks really pretty around reef tanks too and love the humidity and the MH's if you have an open top tank.

Angela
 
Angela;

I don't know anything about mantis but I do know that dwarf lions are pretty slow on the attack, ie they hum and haw, put on a big display and then bam they grab their prey. Would a mantis get all of the food before the lionfish had a chance to eat or are they not big eaters?

Also if your dwarf didn't eat frozen off the get go might the mantis eat all of the frozen before your lion had a chance to try it out?

I'm hopefully getting a lionfish this week too, and will be doing some tank juggling.
 
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