could it be a failed moult?

[Pea-brain]

My P. Ciliata went into it burrow the night before last and hasn't come out yet. It went in at about 2". The last molt only took one day, during the time I was asleep if I remember correctly. I woke up to it molted. I wouldn't be concerned except that An ammonia spike has occured. It is between .25 and 1.0 ppm. I wish I could be more precise but I have trouble comparing these damned colors against eachother. the nitrates are at 10- ish, the nitrites are zero, the salinity is about 1.026, and there is nothing dead in the tank to my knowledge. Could knives be dead? I dont want his body to decompose and kill everything off in the tank, so should I remove him? or should I wait and see if he comes out on the chance that he isnt the cause? Thanks for the help.

 

[DanInSD]

Certainly give it more than a day!

 

[Pea-brain]

Im not worried by how long hes been in there, but by the ammonia spike, however small it may be. I dont see a good reason for any ammonia in my tank. Nothing has died, and I have actually reduced my feeding. Im probably just being jumpy....I just need to be more patient...I'll probly come home tomorrow to find him fine, and feel like a complete idiot...

 

[Thurge]

I can totally understand the paranoia associated with a molt especially one accompanied by an ammonia spike but I wouldn't go digging him out just yet. I would do a 30 - 40% water change and add an Ammonia remover to my filter. Then if he isn't out in another week I might open his door and check on him. If he sticks his head out then immediately put the door back in place.
Your spike could be caused by his shead decomposing and not himself.

 

[Pea-brain]

thanks. He still isnt out. I added some prime ammonia detoxifier. Im afraid to do a water change because my hydrometer broke, so I cant test the salt levels in the change water. When I mixed it I remember it being a bit on the low end at 1.024 but Im not positive. Im going to siphon with airline tubing for the water change so it wont go too fast though. Isnt a week a bit long though? I'll continue to monitor the ammonia levels and I'll wait the week if ammonia doesnt skyrocket... Oh good news! I just finished my ammonia test and its a yellow pee color! according to this chart that means little- no ammonia

 

[Pea-brain]

BTW knives doesn't have a "traditional" mantis door. He just piles up sand at the entrance. not that I dont give him good sized rocks, shells, etc. He just doesnt use them. Lately he has also taken to putting chaetomorpha algae on the side of his entrances when hes out and using it to plug up his entrance before making a sand wall. My guess is that it makes him feel safer. I was planning on making a thread soon detailing that, and many more of his bizarre behaviors, upload some pics of him and some sketches I've made of possible holding containers for raising many mantis shrimp in a large system so you dont have to worry about water quality OR cannabalism. But for now, the best news for last, SOMETHING HAS MOVED!! Some macroalgae he had in front of his door had been moved by hermit that got tangled up. I noticed just now that it has been moved back to its former place, and a pebble has been moved about a half an inch!!!

 

[don103]

any update on Knives?

 

[Pea-brain]

yes, actually. He is fine. And molted. He has nice big rapts that look like they be functional, even though it is only his 2nd molt since he lost them. I think I felt him strike his food last time I fed him too. He is actively moving all of the new macroalgae that I got, despite my best efforts, I have to snap them out of the door to his burrrow and put them back where they belong. He is also a bit bigger, and still yellow, despite the fact I have clear water, very few different colors, and my tank doesnt have alot of rocks. But he is fine, happy and active

 

[deboM3]

cool, good to hear!