Gone into hiding

[seahorsedreams]

My ciliata has gone into hiding for the past month. When I first got him he was very outgoing. He would always be seen sitting in the mouth of his PVC burrow or out cruising around. Then one day he went in and closed the doors and hasn't been seen out at all besides food days. I put some food on a stick, make a couple taps and he digs he way out to come enjoy his food. He then hangs out for awhile in plain view but by morning he is all hidden again. He looks great... nothing different that I can see. He molted prior to this behaviour so he doesn't have eggs in there (I use the word "he" loosely

I have no idea why his behaviour changed when he was so outgoing for so long. No changes in the tank lately. He only comes out for food.

 

[justinl]

any new additions to the tank? equipment livestock, whatever.

 

[seahorsedreams]

There was absolutely no change to the tank.

 

[seahorsedreams]

Re: Gone into hiding

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9642872#post9642872 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by seahorsedreams
He molted prior to this behaviour so he doesn't have eggs in there (I use the word "he" loosely

I should clarify that I didn't mean he molted immediately prior to this behaviou but that he has molted since we got him.

 

[Pea-brain]

how often do you feed?

 

[Thurge]

Sounds like my G.chiagra, Hairy. He will hole up for a month or more then one day he opens up and is out and about.

 

[seahorsedreams]

I feed Mon Wed Fri. Same schedule as the other 2 mantis' albeit this is my first spearer. My step daughter has one that is out continuously.

It just seems like such an abrupt change. When he comes out to eat he doesn't appear stressed at all by his surroundings.... he doesn't act like he doesn't want to be out. He was always very laid back.

I've never known my G. chiagra to ever be out and about.

 

[Conductive]

I have a P. ciliata as well, but iv never had him hole up for much more than a week. He used to only come out for a few hours in the morning, but after I installed a powerhead in my tank, he seems more active and comes out in the evening too. Mine also would get real comfortable after a few weeks of burrow-building and not come out much. As I added more LR to my tank and moved stuff around, he was more active again building new burrows and eye-balling my fish. Hope that helps!

 

[Skipper2]

Recently I had a little red spider crab show up in my Mantis tank. Everything stayed normal as far as my Mantis was concerned until the crab started getting much bigger. My Mantis went into his molt and when he came out, I rarely saw him. He ate a few things after the molt and then refused food all together and stayed in his tunnel. This behavior lasted almost 2 weeks. We removed the crab to another tank and slowly (in about 3 days) he was back to normal.