Couple G. Smithii questions.

[Hetfield6j]

Just recently received my first mantis shrimp. G Smithii about 3 inches long residing in a 14G Bio-cube, 20lb live sand, 10lb live rock, few corals, snails, crabs. This is my second day with him and not surprisingly he has not been out of the rock at all (Made a home in a peice of rock in the rear corner of the tank, dead straight against the wall). I have not bothered him at all and had the lights out for most of his first day.

Should i attempt to feed him, or let him go untill he gets more comfortable and gets one of the nas snails/crabs? He would be very hard to feed, as he is completly in the corner of the tank, with the rock up against the wall. Another thing that kinda stumps me is in all of the new mantis posts i have read, they almost always "Smash" out there new home to make it how they want it. He did some digging the first day for about 10 minutes but just enough to get under the rock and into the hole. Do Smithii's not build thier own den like others i have read about? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[DanInSD]

My new smithii did much the same as yours. I would not offer food for a few more days. Let the poor frazzled little dude get all acclimated.

Dan

 

[helipilot]

Ditto Dan's recommendations. My Smithii took all most a month to really come out and take charge of his new home. Good Luck

 

[Hetfield6j]

Thanks guys. Its such a bummer when you cycle a tank for a month and go through hell to get the right mantis to then not even see it more then once

 

[justinl]

My own smithii burrowed under his rock first and over the course of a couple weeks or so he burrowed up into the rock. It's easier on the mantis if the rock has lots of holes in it to begin with.

for the begining he wasnt terribly active, but over time he became more adventurous. I would not feed your guy for at least three days. after that time, you can offer him some frozen food. just leave the live food in so he can hunt them down at his own leisure.