Clown Mantis Shrimp

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Sticklejamesabc

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Feb 10, 2009
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Heya. Just been researching abouyt these, and was wondering if anyone owns one, or knows much about them?

How long do they grow?
What water conditions do they need?
Do they play well with others? :P
Average cost?

Im looking for personal experience responces, as they normally vary alot from what you read on tinterweb :)

If anyone is wondering what they are/look like, check them out here:- http://www.tropicalfish4u.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_copy_of_copy_of_Saron_shrimp.html
 
Per the site you provided:
Tropical_Fish_Fish_Stats.jpg
Diet: Carnivore Compatibility: Aggressive Max Size: 15 cm Family Group: Gonodactylidae Reef Compatible: No



The Clown Mantis Shrimp, also referred to as the Peacock Mantis Shrimp, is included in the Smashing Mantis Shrimp group. They are very interesting shrimp that resemble the praying mantis insect. They have large colorful eyes that are either blue or green rimmed and their bodies exhibit many bright colors. The main part of the body is green with red outlines on the shell. These are extremely aggressive shrimp that should be housed alone in a species aquarium.

The Clown Mantis Shrimp should be housed in an aquarium that is devoted to this species. Only one shrimp should be kept in the aquarium. They have very quick claws that they use to break the shell of crustaceans and crabs. They should not be housed with fish or other invertebrates, unless they are very large, and caution should still be exercised. A sandy bottom with plenty of rubble and at least one piece of live rock should be provided for these shrimp to create a cave.

The diet of a Clown Mantis Shrimp should include live feeder fish, crabs and frozen meaty foods such as fish, scallop and shrimp.
 
KIM_TMA said:
Per the site you provided: The Clown Mantis Shrimp, also referred to as the Peacock Mantis Shrimp, is included in the Smashing Mantis Shrimp group. They are very interesting shrimp that resemble the praying mantis insect. They have large colorful eyes that are either blue or green rimmed and their bodies exhibit many bright colors. The main part of the body is green with red outlines on the shell. These are extremely aggressive shrimp that should be housed alone in a species aquarium.

The Clown Mantis Shrimp should be housed in an aquarium that is devoted to this species. Only one shrimp should be kept in the aquarium. They have very quick claws that they use to break the shell of crustaceans and crabs. They should not be housed with fish or other invertebrates, unless they are very large, and caution should still be exercised. A sandy bottom with plenty of rubble and at least one piece of live rock should be provided for these shrimp to create a cave.

The diet of a Clown Mantis Shrimp should include live feeder fish, crabs and frozen meaty foods such as fish, scallop and shrimp.
Click to expand...

I did add a quick edit afterwards for fear of someone doing what you did and that was:
"Im looking for personal experience responces, as they normally vary alot from what you read on tinterweb :)"
 
Sorry Stickle, but I think that it holds true for these little beast.

I read a post earlier last week talking about what happens when the lights go off, b/c with lights on fish fine when he turns them on fish are freaking out bashing into tank walls and corals and it was mentioned to look for a mantis b/c it could be harrasing the fish when lights are off.

Hope you get some personal info on them.
 
I had a small (1.5") green smasher mantis from the Florida area. It was a lot of fun, and would come grab shrimp off of a bamboo skewer. It regularly bashed on the end of the skewer if the shrimp didn't just fall right off. I also heard it through the day chipping new tunnels in the live rock. The find a spot they think needs a tunnel, and just start pounding away at it.

If you don't mind a tank dedicated to this predator I think you would enjoy it.

There is very little you could have in the way of tankmates for this guy. I had a small clown and goby, but they were both larger than the shrimp, and so they were fine with him for the time I had them. Mine was never going to get much bigger anyway.

Youtube video's for the Peacock Mantis, and I think you will get an idea of what it takes to care for one.
 
Mantis shrimp seem to be one of the meanest animals on the planet.
Most people that I know of who have hed them got them as hitch ikers, and didnt want anything to do with them..
 
They really are pretty awesome, but you should plan on dedicating a tank to them. We get them in at work sometimes, and they can sometimes be babies and not super aggressive, but I don't think I'd risk fish with them. The smashers are also crustacean eaters, as opposed to the spearers, which are fish eaters. If you had a particularly shy one and you kept him well fed, it would be possible to house fish and such with him for some while, but there is no way I would recommend it.
They are pretty easy to keep though.
And it only says reef safe there because they will eat snails and such that are often found in a reef tank. They won't touch corals. You can keep them with corals just fine, just know that your are likely to be replacing your clean up crew pretty often. They do take to frozen easily, but these critters are a good treat to help him exercise his club.
Also, if you are to keep him in a reef, I would suggest having it be softies and such that don't have such a powerful and quick sting, as he is likely to arrange the tank to however he wants to and knock stuff over in the process.
 
I saw the most incredible and frightening video, I think on youtube, or monsterfishkeepers.com.

My good lord, that thing came out of the sand and snatched a shrimp off of a skewer with such ferocity and violence....

I had nightmares....

I wouldn't want anything else in there with it.
 
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