Dead Mantis

[German]

Hi all,
I have a question. Have any of you lost an mantis during a molt? I found my mantis dead today and it looked like he was still molting because he still have the original skin on his tail.

I'm thinking the GreenEx got him, the stuff discolored his skin, and I've read they eat their skin during molting. Or the toxin from the red flatworms got him, even though I did a water change and a filter media change after the die off.

Just before the molt, he ate a Astrea snail.
Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[Gonodactylus]

I would say that at least three quarters of stomatopod deaths in captivity occur during the molt. THis isn't surprising given how stressful molting is. Anything that weakens the animal - diesease, injury, starvation, - or wounds that prevent the actual ecdysis, will do it in.

You mention shell discoloration. If you had an Odontodactylus scyllarus (Peacock or clown mantis shrimp), shell disease is extremely common in large animals, particularly males, and often is fatal, usually when they try to molt. This may be due to a general weakening of the animal and/or the actual fusion of the old and new cuticle that prevents it being shed.

Roy

 

[German]

Hi Roy,
Thanks for the info. I thought I might have done the mantis in trying to get rid of the flatworms in the tank. I'm not sure what species my mantis was, I found him in my Florida liverock shipment for my reef tank. I bummed that it had gone, it was the most interesting invert I had.

Any suggestion on what type of Mantis that is hardy and stays within 3 inches or 8cm?
Thanks again in advance.

 

[Gonodactylus]

I'm not sure what GreenEx is, but most stomatopods are very sensitive to organic solvents, heavy metals, insecticides, etc. I have had bad luck with some of the phosphate removers, so this could have been the problem.

Most of the Neogonodactylus coming out of the Caribbean would do well, particularly N. bredini, N. oerstedii and N. wennerae. The most common species being sold right now is N. wennerae that loves cultured LR. The most common species picked up tide-pooling in the keys is N. oerstedii.

One of my favorite species for a small tank is Gonodactylus smithii from the western Pacific. It has a lot of personality, is very flashy, and seems to be reasonably tough. Gonodactylus platysoma would not be a very good choice, but G. chiragra would do fine - although it is not that colorful and gets up to 10 cm.

Some people have also had good luck with Gonodactylaceus ternatensis although being a subtidal, live coral specialist, it is not quite as hardy.

Those are the main small gonodactylids that are commonly sold.

I guess I would recommend Neogonodactylus wennerae to start with. They are cheap (often free), tough, and not too shy.

Roy

 

[Hwarang]

Gonodactylus, pls post more. Your messages are power-packed with specific information. Or go write a book or something

Thx.
- "sir reads a lot"