Butch needs help, I think...

[Q-ball]

Hiyas...Well, I don't understand what's going on, but it can't be good. Butch is a 2.5" clubbing mantis, never got a complete id on him, he's emerald green with white dots. I believe he molted over the last week. This morning, I look in & he's under the rock he hides in, laying on his side in plain view. He's not dead, his swimerettes are waving constantly like normal, but he doesn't react to the krill I put in for him which is adnormal for him. I'm going to do some tests on the water to see what I can find, but I wanted to get this post out as quick as I could to see what ideas you might have. BTW, the blue damsel & single large hermit crab look fine, neither is near the mantis, nor does it look like there was any agression between them. The hermit is still hiding from Butch under some culerpa just like normal. Since they (specially the hermit) look just fine, I'm thinking it's something other than water quality but I'm going to check just in case. Any thoughts?

Q!!!

 

[moviegeek]

Q-Ball,

Dude, I feel your pain. I recently lost both my male and female O. Scyllarus after they displayed the behavior you are describing for one day. After exchanging a couple of e-mails with Dr. Caldwell he ruled out disease and suggested they died from stress right before molting. Unsuccessful molts account for 90% of captive deaths in Dr. Caldwell's experience, he said.

Hoping Butch already molted last week...

I'm re-evaluating some of the mantis advice I've received after experiencing my losses. I think mantis shrimp may be more sensitive to water quality than some people advise. In the future I am going to treat my mantis as if they are a saltwater fish or coral as far as water quality goes.

 

[Q-ball]

Hey MG, what you say may make sense, but it sure doesn't explain how mantis survive cycling of tanks, being in rock that's dried out for a week or so, etc etc etc Who knows...I did test my water, no ammonia, NO3 was ~10ppm or so, which shouldn't hurt him. He's actually still alive, he's staying mostly on his side curled up a bit. I think I was wrong about him molting last week, and he's having a difficult time of one right now. Monday I tried to feed him a piece of krill on a stick again, & he came out to it but it seemed like he couldn't move his two "arms" still..I wonder if he can't get a bit of the old "skin" off of the arms & that's the trouble? I'm not planning on reaching in & helping him with the buttons though, he can do that himself Since he's lasted so long through this, I'm still hopeful, we'll see...

Q!!!

 

[Q-ball]

Well, it's Friday, and he's still going...Wed night he actually took a small piece of krill back into his cave, I didn't see it floating later so I assume he ate it. Last night & this morning, he seemed to be more "upright", not laying on his side, and his eyes seemed more alert. The other night when he took the krill, he was able to use his "arms" so that problem seems to be past, although he still seems lethargic a bit...I guess we'll see, but I'm more hopeful now than I was on Monday...

Q!!!

 

[moviegeek]

How is Butch doin'?

 

[Q-ball]

Hey Adam, he's still kicking...he still isn't eating like he was before the incident, but he still takes 2 pieces of krill a week...he was taking 3-5pieces before, but that seems to be too much for him. He's not out as much either, but if I'm over at the tank looking in at him, he'll pop his head out for a moment to say hi. We heard him clicking for the first time in a long time the other day, and he was really going to town in there. Guess he was adding a 2nd room to the cave I'm still kinda worried as he's not his same old spunky self, but he seems to be doing pretty well. Thanks for asking...

Q!!!

 

[Scotty]

...Krill alone

...Krill alone

I noticed my three Mantis not thriving after about 8 months of an exclusive diet of shrimp soaked in vitamins recommeded by Dr. Caldwell. Long story short, three months ago I started giving them frozen fish food complex,Prime reef and Formula one,and now they look better in every way. I'm sure in the ocean mantis eat fish, shrimp, plankton, crabs, snails, plants and god only knows what else. Can mantis thrive on krill alone?

 

[Q-ball]

Hey Scottie, this is a good point. I dunno. From what I've read, these guys main food is shrimp, crabs, some snails etc...Not sure if they eat any plants though...I did put a hermit in for Butch, but it's still a bit big for him to crack open. You can sure bet he's tried though The crab no longer goes anywhere near Butch's cave. I have some form1, maybe I'll give that a shot. thanks,

Q!!!