Baby Mantis Shrimp

 Baby Mantis Shrimp for Sale: Care Guide for Juvenile Mantis Shrimp

If you have ever seen a Mantis Shrimp up close, you already know why so many marine hobbyists become completely obsessed with them. These incredible creatures are colorful, intelligent, and unlike anything else you can keep in a saltwater tank. At Dr. Reef’s Quarantined Fish, we offer healthy, quarantined juvenile Mantis Shrimp that give you the best possible start with one of the most fascinating animals in the ocean.

What Makes Mantis Shrimp So Amazing?

Mantis Shrimp are not actually shrimp in the traditional sense. They belong to their own order called Stomatopoda and are considered one of the most advanced crustaceans on the planet. They have 16 types of color receptors in their eyes, compared to just three in humans, which means they see the world in ways we can barely imagine. Their striking colors, ranging from deep blues and greens to brilliant oranges and reds, make them one of the most visually stunning animals you can display in an aquarium.

Baby Mantis Shrimp, also called juveniles, are especially exciting to raise because you get to watch them develop their full coloration and personality over time. Starting with a juvenile also allows the animal to acclimate to aquarium life gradually, which often results in a healthier and more interactive adult.

There are two main types of Mantis Shrimp: smashers and spearers. Smashers use powerful club-like appendages to break open hard-shelled prey like snails and crabs. Spearers use sharp, spear-like claws to catch fast-moving prey like fish and shrimp. Both types are remarkable hunters and fascinating to observe during feeding time.

Why Buy From Dr. Reef’s Quarantined Fish?

Mantis Shrimp collected from the wild often arrive at vendors stressed, injured, or carrying parasites from their transport journey. A stressed juvenile Mantis Shrimp may refuse to eat, hide constantly, and decline quickly without the right care. This is a situation that Dr. Reef’s quarantine process directly addresses.

Every juvenile Mantis Shrimp available at Dr. Reef’s Quarantined Fish goes through a full observation and conditioning period before shipping. During this time, each animal is monitored daily, given appropriate foods to encourage natural feeding behavior, and assessed for health and activity levels. By the time your baby Mantis Shrimp arrives at your door, it is already eating, active, and adjusted to life in an aquarium setting. This gives you a massive head start compared to purchasing from a source that ships wild-caught animals with no conditioning at all.

Setting Up the Perfect Juvenile Mantis Shrimp Tank

Baby Mantis Shrimp can be kept in tanks as small as 10 to 20 gallons, making them an accessible species even for hobbyists with limited space. As they grow, you will want to upgrade to a larger system. Most adult Mantis Shrimp do well in 30 to 55 gallon tanks depending on their species and size.

Substrate is important. Mantis Shrimp are burrowing animals that love to dig and construct dens in the sand bed. Provide a sand bed of at least three inches deep along with live rock rubble and PVC pipe sections that the animal can use as shelter. A secure lid is absolutely essential because Mantis Shrimp are surprisingly strong and clever escape artists.

Keep water parameters stable with a salinity of 1.025, a temperature between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and strong filtration to handle the waste produced by regular feeding.

Feeding Your Juvenile Mantis Shrimp

Baby Mantis Shrimp should be fed small, appropriately sized foods that match their current size and hunting style. Small pieces of raw shrimp, clam, and mussel work very well. You can also offer small snails and hermit crabs to encourage natural hunting behavior. Feed once daily and remove any uneaten food after a few hours to keep water quality high.

As your Mantis Shrimp grows, increase the size of food items accordingly. Watching a Mantis Shrimp hunt and consume its prey is one of the most exciting feeding displays in the entire marine hobby.