Mantis Shrimp PVC Burrow Questions

[Pazzoman]

Hello Everyone, been doing research on peacock mantis. My biggest issue is making sure his PVC burrow is up to par. Based on research a 3 inch one in diameter at about 2-3x their body length is recommended. Is this what the PVC burrow is suppose to look like? It’s going into a 50 gallon breeder. I’m going to have to cut it shorter I’m thinking from 37 inches total down to 24 inches. Also is it the straight pipe has to be 2/3x their body length or the entire burrow?

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[mpatterson42]

That's probably fine, but maybe extend out the depth a bit more. How wide is your tank? I'd maybe do 50% on and side and 75% on the other. So if the tank width is 24 inches instead of 8 inches do 12 inches on one side and 18 inches on the other. Maybe have one entrance facing the front glass and the other facing the middle of the aquarium. It just gives the shrimp options on where it's most comfortable.

 

[Pazzoman]

That's probably fine, but maybe extend out the depth a bit more. How wide is your tank? I'd maybe do 50% on and side and 75% on the other. So if the tank width is 24 inches do 12 inches on one side and 18 inches on the other. Maybe have one entrance facing the front glass and the other facing the middle of the aquarium. It just gives the shrimp options on where it's most comfortable.

Thank you for your response, the tank is 36 x 18 so I don’t really have lot of room. However I could still extend out one little longer than the other

 

[Stomatopods17]

This will work.

Rub the inside of it with sandpaper if you can, to give texture for them to grip and attack their own sand/rubble.

Make sure theres plenty of rubble and fill it with sand a bit, not too much that it doesn’t fit. Angle the burrow slightly upwards, from front view it’s U not — but 90 degree angle elbows aren’t great for this.

more; \________/ than |_______|, if you have enough sand, rock and rubble you can actually remove the elbows for just the center piece, sorta trench it, and let the piles of rubble around the entrances form the would be elbows.

IME entrance to entrance 3x length is fine.

 

[Pazzoman]

This will work.

Rub the inside of it with sandpaper if you can, to give texture for them to grip and attack their own sand/rubble.

Make sure theres plenty of rubble and fill it with sand a bit, not too much that it doesn’t fit. Angle the burrow slightly upwards, from front view it’s U not — but 90 degree angle elbows aren’t great for this.

more; \________/ than |_______|, if you have enough sand, rock and rubble you can actually remove the elbows for just the center piece, sorta trench it, and let the piles of rubble around the entrances form the would be elbows.

IME entrance to entrance 3x length is fine.

Thank you for all your information. Is there another type of pvc fitting I should use instead of the elbow to help get the shape right?

 

[Stomatopods17]

There's 45 degree elbows, but you could just bury the pve without any fittings at all, dig out the entrances and line rubble around, the mantis will readjust the rubble and sand as it feels from there.

 

[Pazzoman]

There's 45 degree elbows, but you could just bury the pve without any fittings at all, dig out the entrances and line rubble around, the mantis will readjust the rubble and sand as it feels from there.

Thank you I’ll probably get the 45 degree elbows just to play it safe anyways. By any chance do you know where to get black pvc pipe and fittings if not I was thinking of painting it black with krylon fusion ? Also you mentioned entrance to entrance 3x length should be good. So I’m thinking total length about 21 inches should be good if the peacock mantis was to max out at 7 inches. Also do you recommend a plexi glass at the bottom of the tank or is that not necessary?

 

[Pazzoman]

Here is an update so far. I purchased 3 inch pvc pipe and 45 degree fittings. The total pipe work comes out to about 25 inches. Was thinking of cutting it smaller, but maybe that’s best if the shrimp was to grow to a max of 7 inches. I plan on sanding the inside and outside of the pipe and instead of painting adding silicone all over it. Then I’m thinking about putting sand on it. I think that would be best and safest for the shrimp. Also how should the pipe be placed in the tank? Towards back/middle or lopsided? Was thinking back just so more front room for exploration and easier to direct a wave maker towards one of the ends of the pipe. I heard somewhere to direct a wave maker at it, even tho I also heard not to worry about it since shrimp being so active will constantly keep the water moving in the burrow.

 

[Fish Fan]

Here is an update so far. I purchased 3 inch pvc pipe and 45 degree fittings. The total pipe work comes out to about 25 inches. Was thinking of cutting it smaller, but maybe that’s best if the shrimp was to grow to a max of 7 inches. I plan on sanding the inside and outside of the pipe and instead of painting adding silicone all over it. Then I’m thinking about putting sand on it. I think that would be best and safest for the shrimp. Also how should the pipe be placed in the tank? Towards back/middle or lopsided? Was thinking back just so more front room for exploration and easier to direct a wave maker towards one of the ends of the pipe. I heard somewhere to direct a wave maker at it, even tho I also heard not to worry about it since shrimp being so active will constantly keep the water moving in the burrow.

@Stomatopods17 is the one to listen to here, but I'm just going to say great job! I'm just glad you're taking this seriously and trying to provide a great habitat. Please post a build thread or some other documentation of this build and of the little 'squid' that you get ;-)

@Stomatopods17 Thank you for your help with these threads, I absolutely appreciate it!