Hello. I'm new to this site, but was told that there was an expert here who may be able to help. I've had this little green mantis shrimp for about five months and he has just been the best. Very active and very quick to hunt something down. A couple of days ago I fed him a crab and was surprised the next day to find that the crab was still alive. The mantis shrimp wasn't molting, but seemed uninterested in the food. Today I decided to take the crab back out of the water and back into the feeder tank, thinking there may be something wrong with the mantis. A few hours later the mantis was laying (curled in a ball) on his side, outside of his rock, which he never does, and didn't seem to have great control of his tail and some of his legs. My wife, who is the animal expert of the house, tested the water and found nothing out of the ordinary. Sorry I can't give more info in that department. The water was around 70, so we turned it up just a bit. Is there anything anyone can suggest? Does this sound like a 'bad molt' ? I can't find out any information as to what this behavior is being caused by. Any help would be much appreciated. Also, today the mantis shrimp began thrashing about wildly if the light was ever turned on. Or, if any other bright light in that room was turned on (other fish tanks, lamps ect.). This seems pretty strange to me. I've never heard of something like this. Poor little guy....
can anyone help my mantis....
- Thread starter amosisgod
- Start date
I had something like this happen to me not too long ago and hopefully your mantis turns out like mine did. I found mine lying on his side in his burrow with his legs twiggling and having some kind of convulsions. i thought he was gonna die and there was nothing I could do, but a few hours later, he looked like he was in better shape. I took a good look into his burrow and I found his molt skin lying there so he had just molted.
He also rejected food for two or three days prior to the molt so what yours is doing seems normal to me, except for the fact that he's outside of his burrow.
Good luck. Hopefully he turns out well
He also rejected food for two or three days prior to the molt so what yours is doing seems normal to me, except for the fact that he's outside of his burrow.
Good luck. Hopefully he turns out well
I got the mantis off of ebay. It was a big fish store from Florida. The name escapes me right now, but I would just do a search for mantis shrimp and see what comes up. It was about 20 dollars for the mantis, but that doesn't include shipping. (which, for a live fish, is kind of expensive). This is day 2 of the strange behavior from the mantis with no sign of improvement. He is not moving as much and is less in a ball and more just lying on his side and back. Looks like I might be shopping for a new mantis soon myself. This is the second mantis we lost after having them about 4-6 months. (that is, if he dies). I love them, but I'm not sure if I want another. They are supposed to be hard to kill, but I'm starting to not believe that. There is also a fish that has always lived in the same tank as the mantis shrimps, but it has never been sick. I don't know why I can't seem to be able to keep a mantis alive.
Also, to the person in northern Indiana; have you heard of 'the Finish Line' in LaPort. That is where I first saw a mantis shrimp. They had a peacock mantis about 6 inches long. It ate a fiddler crab in one bite and I fell in love. I didn't end up buying that one, but someone did. They get them from time to time and if you talk to the owner he may be able to find one. (at least he knows what a mantis shrimp is, which is more than I can say about most pet store owners around here)
