Concerned about new home and getting fed

[Glove]

I just transfered 3 tanks into one. I decided that since my mantis was not real aggresive and pretty small I would let it live in the new 48" long system. Well I placed the mants into the tank about a week ago and I have not seen it or signs of where it might be living. This mantis has never really taken any food other than the frozen squid I feed it from a tube. I am concerned he/she is not getting to eat. Any advice?
I have some small blue leg hermits I could toss in there but I was trying to avoid hermits in this system. All my snails are quite large in comparison to this shrimp so I dont think it will be looking at those as a food source.
I hate to dig around in my rocks trying to locate the shrimp.

 

[Uriel]

What other animals do you have in the system?
Some eat mantis shrimp, y'know...

He is probably just holed up in a new spot, or maybe in a molt. I wouldn't dig around for him. Dr. Roy advises against it. He will come out once he is comfortable again. Gettng tossed and turned in a transfer can be a shocking experience.

 

[DensityMan]

Often times when a significant water change or change of environment happens my mantis will go into hiding for a time as well; possibly to molt or possibly just nervous of new circumstances.

Good luck regardless.

 

[Glove]

There are 2 fish in the tank- a 6 line wrasse and a maroon clown. I also have a cleaner shrimp, a boxer crab and an emerald crab. The emerald crab is going to be relocated as soon as I can get to him. I wouldnt say the move was disruptive for the shrimp. Lots more rock for him and deeper sand.
I didnt think much, I suppose one of the fish could do him some harm, the cleaner shrimp might harass, or I suppose if the emerald crab got a good pinch on the mantis it could be real bad. I would be upset. The mantis is about the same size as both fish (2.5"-3") The emerald is prety big- quarter size or so.
I was just wondering when I should start really looking for him. It been just a few days since he was put in.

 

[Uriel]

Neither the cleaner shrimp or emerald pose any threat to the mantis (The other way around).
The Wrasse might, as some wrasses are capable of eating a mantis. If they are the same size, I wouldn't worry overly for the mantis (Not so for the fish,maybe...).
He is most likely holeing up somewhere, don't worry.


-Ron

 

[Glove]

LOCATED!
I have noticed rubble falling out of a certain rock. Looks just like a landslide occured. I seen his eyestalks looking out from a hole in that rock today. Whew!
I got out the tube and syringe, sucked up a little squid and gave the mantis a bite to eat.
I am glad to know where it is living. I still need to find out what kind of smasher it is.

 

[Uriel]

It's always best not to panic. I really thought that Freya (My first G. chiraga) was dead, as she had been locked away for almost a month.
I was getting ready to open up her burrow and sadly extract my dead mantis,when what did I see?

A much bigger mantis face peering out at me. I dropped a big fiddler in there and *whoosh!* a now massive Freya shot out and blew it apart in one whack, happily taking the remains back in for a long-awaited dinner. She is also bright green now, though she was a pale and washed out green when I bought her. I am going to have to move her soon, as she really did get BIG this last molt.


-Ron