Clean up crew?

[mantis enthusiast]

What kind of clean up crew can u keep with mantis's? I want to keep a mantis and would think that they would make a mess when they eat. Also would an eclipse 6 work or would it be too small? thanks for any info.

[teckt]

Well that depends on what species your mantis is. Wheather it's a smasher or a spearer type. I currently have a 5' Odontodactylus scyllarus in a 25 gal eclipse. I introduced 10 astrea snails and 2 turbos after cycling. Their nubers have reduced slowly. I've witnessed on more than one occasion bashing an astrea. Theirs only about 6 astrea's left and one of the turbos died becouse "virgil" decided to use it's shell in burrow construction. I guess my experience is that if you keep him fed well enough your snails may live awhile, though don't expect them all to survie becouse they won't. Snails are a part of what their diet consists of so casualitys will occur. On the other hand if you get a mantis of the spearer type it's primary diet consists of fish so having snails with one would be ok i suppose.

[mantis enthusiast]

I would like to get a peacock mantis are they spearers or bashers? Also if i get a spearer is it possible to keep hermit crabs in the tank?

[moviegeek]

"Peacock Mantis" is just what they call them at the LFS - they could be of several species. In my experience they are always O. scyllarus, which are smashers. Very powerful smashers.

[teckt]

Well i also have about a 2 1/2 or 3' Pseudosquilla ciliata wich is a spearer in a eclipse 12 and right now. Though becouse of cycling i only have 1 hermit. he's still alive and doing well. It's been my experience with the spearers that they do not harm shelled creatures. Though i have heard from a few sources that some spearers have been documented prying a small hermit from it's shell. I've never seen it done by mine or any of my friends mantis's. Moviegeek is right about the "Peacock Mantis" or Odontodactylus scyllarus. My O. scyllarus is one of the most interesting creatures i have ever had. Im still on the llok out for a spearer of a larger species. An eclipse 6 should be ok for your bug depending on it's size. That would just be common sense.