hi ross
welcome to the forum.
get the mantis, youll luv it!
i havent got a clue as to what kills them during a molt but after roy sent me the following info ive decided to treat my mantis like they are the most delicate coral.
roy wrote:
I would say that 90% of deaths occur during the molt. It is a time of
tremendous stress and anything that weakens the animal can do it in at this
time. A healthy animal is usually only vulnerable for minutes during the
molt, but if they get stuck, crabs and other stomatopods will attack them.
I really don't know what to suggest other than good water, lots of calcium
rich food, and a good place to hide.
and:
Nitrates are a problem for stomaotpods, but a 25% water change once a month
along with some algal growth and removal is what we try to maintain and
that keeps nitrates in check. Nitrites and ammonia must be near zero. Ph
above 8 is desirable. We use Selco to promote egg-laying in mated
females, but do not use it regularly for most animals. A varied diet seems
adequate.
these are just the answer to some of the questions ive asked but i hope they help out a little.
isfrael
p.s. it think ist great that mantis shrimp are gain more popularity as i think the more people who own them the better as it opens up a larger pool of info and experience for people who are wanting more info and knowledge from more experienced owners.
i want to thank all the people who have helped me learn more about these funky little fellas especially moviegeek who i flooded with emails about asking questions nearly everyday. cheer mg and the rest of ya people! bye.
( hope i dont sound like a emotional WRECK! )
