Food

[30mini]

Okay, so I called just about every LFS around town asking what kind of Hitchikers they get in their LR. Well, most of them told me that they don't get a whole lot. Me being the ambitious one, asked when their next shipment was coming in, and they all told me they had no clue. They didn't even offer to take my number to give me a call!! I told them that I was going to use them as food for my mantis, and they all were like clueless as to what I was talking about!! Anyone else have the experience at all?

 

[Kigs]

The LFS around me will pretty much put a price tag on anything and sell it, hitchhiker or not. Unless you are cool with the employees, it doesn't make sense for them to be giving away hitchhikers in a business point of view; even if it might be a gorilla crab or w/e. I've been there, asked for scraps, and they all told me the same answers. "if there's anything, you must purchase it" Just stick with raw shrimps and scallops from your local stores. It's so much cheaper.

 

[30mini]

I am cool with all the people i called. usually I can get a pretty good deal on just about anything, but this time I got a no for some reason!! I guess that'll be what I have to do... just stick to the raw shimp

 

[Uriel]

At the very least, you will want to give the occasional snail, so that the mantis' dactyls stay in shape. With disuse, they may fall off.
I would fork out a couple of bucks for the occassional fiddler or other crab as well. Hermits aren't that expensive, for that matter.
Some LFS don't want to bother with saving hitchhikers for folks.
Check your local thread on reefcentral (Hopefully, there is one for your area). Post a thread on it, asking for unwanted hitchers, and someone will almost certainly get some that they don't want (Possibly even more mantis shrimp).


Good luck,

-Ron

 

[30mini]

I have fed him plenty of hermits and snails... and there is even one emerald in there that he hasn't gone after yet. I give him the occasional treat of raw shrimp and/or mysis. That is a good idea to put one up on there. I never really see anyone in Cincinnati with mantis though. They are hard enough to get at the LFS around here!

 

[dantodd]

I picked up my mantis as a hitchhiker. They had 2 in the LR shipment and they were going to be trigger food. Also, around here one of the LFS sells astrea for $10/10 which is pretty reasonable. Of course, snidely doesn't bother with them, he has 8 in his tank right now and could care less. He also doesn't show any interest in the hermit crabs. He's apparently quite picky and likes table shrimp best.

 

[gunslingerone9]

i have a buddy at the local petco(i know i dont like buying livestock there but food wise its the only place around.) he said that he gets in clowns from ora and they send him mantis once every month or so for free and they just feed them to triggers and the like.