Feeding Mantis Shrimp

[Pufferpunk]

I bought a peacock mantis yesterday. Beautiful, about 4". What exactally do they prefer to eat? It was just being kept in a fuge, on the side. I figured he'd eat pellets, krill & such. I know I've only had him for a day do maybe he is not adjusted well enough to eat yet. He's clicking away in the tank though.

 

[PSam]

This site has some good info: http://www.blueboard.com/mantis

 

[Steverino]

I hear they like to eat dogs......

 

[Strykur]

I know for sure they eat crabs.


I have a small one in my tank that I cant catch and he is munching on my hermits

There is a Mantis forum here on RC, I am sure you can get whatever info you need from there.

Scott

 

[Pufferpunk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9104116#post9104116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Strykur


There is a Mantis forum here on RC, I am sure you can get whatever info you need from there.

Scott

Thanks, I had no idea. I spend way too much time on the CMAS forum!

 

[BigKev23]

I recently got one at the frag swap from Pam. Mine eats Rod's food. I usually feed it at the same time I am feeding my fish and just pick out a larger piece of food, put it on a stick and put the end of the stick in the tank. He comes right out and pulls it off of the stick. Very interesting to watch...

 

[ppurcell]

I thought they preferred seek and destroy missions...

 

[yankeereefer]

Keep a handy supply of snails in the fuge - He'll eat them as he feels necessary

You can supplement the snail feeding with fresh (raw) shrimp from the seafood counter at the grocery - Some of us like to soak it in an additive like selcon.

I usually give my wennerae about a 1/4" chunk sliced off 1x weekly.

HTH Puffer

Where'd you get him?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Got him from DarkLordCorals. I can't keep him in the fuge--there's a staghorn hermit crab in there. What kind of snails are the cheapest for me to feed him? How often? Pulled one out of my main tank--what fun to watch & hear him eat! Made the dog nuts & he's still barking at the tank. Does anyone know the scientific name of the Peacock?

I was just gonna keep him in my BB frag tank but he's so cool, I'm gonna make this tank for him. Need sand now...

 

[PSam]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9107518#post9107518 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Pufferpunk
Does anyone know the scientific name of the Peacock?

Odontodactylus scyllarus?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Need Sand

Need Sand

Oops, meant this to be a new post.

 

[miztic]

Here's Dr. Roy's page on the O. Scyllarus:
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/arthro...ostraca/royslist/species.php?name=o_scyllarus

Wish I had the space to put in another 55gal, I'd love to keep an O. Scyllarus..

I bought a package of frozen clams at the LFS and cut off a bit every other day and feed that to my little G. Viridis.. I like to alternate with mysis, and have been looking for prime reef at the LFS to mix it up a little..

HTH

 

[Pufferpunk]

Perfect, thanks!

 

[MikeD]

I bet he would love the 'puffer' diet!!! Lots o crunchy stuff!!

 

[Pufferpunk]

Yeah, got lots of that in my freezer. Fed him a snail from my main tank this morning. I hope he takes to dead foods quickly. Live snails could get expensive. I tried a FD krill last night & it was still there this morning.

 

[PSam]

Did you just drop the krill in there? Some people feed with chopsticks or similar, maybe the movement of food on a stick attracts them to it?

 

[Pufferpunk]

Yeah, I thought it would go after anything I put in there--even tried pellets. Doing a lot more research now.

 

[yankeereefer]

I guess I didn't move fast enough. I talked to Mike and Elizabeth at the swap and was considering picking it up. It meant though that I would have to setup another tank and right now I am saving cash for my newest addiction, Poison Dart Frogs

I feed my mantis astreas and margaritas

I typically buy a dozen snails every 2 weeks - There's 3-4 still left from the prior bunch when I add the new ones.

My mantis will also eat Rod's food from a turkey baster. You can give the mantis meatier stuff using a shish kabob skewer.

Unitl you get the tank built, go yourself a piece of PVC pipe in there for it to hang out in - This temp. shelter will help it feel more comfortable.

You'll want a decent sandbed and lot's of rubble for him to build his caves

Post pics!

here's mine (different species)

 

[Pufferpunk]

I have the perfect rock w/a cave already built in. He's mostly hanging out behind the rock though. I did see him go in the cave today, for a lil while. I grabbed all the smaller-sized rubble I could find in my sump for him. Still need sand, if anyone hase some. I'm soaking a piece of scallop in Zoe vitamens right now. Anyone know how long I need to soak or is just defrosting in the vitamins enough?