looking
- Thread starter tirtguyll
- Start date
majestic sea life
New member
N.wenn humm like hwarang told u TBS is a good one like 20 to 30lbs u have a 80% of geting one and look some ppl dont want them o ywah hwarang how is she doing i mean your mantis.
~brian
~brian
Hwarang
New member
i see her only rarely now, she's very reclusive. if i can catch her, i am going to move her back to a 2.5 g with minimal live rock, so i can see her more often.
also, under 32w PC light her molting has not improved her colors much. her back and the top of her tail are still very dark
also, under 32w PC light her molting has not improved her colors much. her back and the top of her tail are still very dark
majestic sea life
New member
well that sucks some. hey man do u think a minibow 2.5 can hold one with out the risk of u no what cuz i can get one as soon as i want.i liked her colors looked like a rainbow to me lol i use to have on in a 10gal it was out alot maybe u have to much light u no well ttyl.
~brian
~brian
hwarang:
I've read that a mantis's color can fade if they don't have a dark enough burrow. Typically they don't actually make their burrows unless an adequate one isn't provided. What you should do is get a black piece of pvc, cap one end(or put an elbow and allow for a back door), and put an elbow on the other. wedge it under your LR in the tank for realism. It should take to the manmade burrow quite quickly.
If his color isn't improving you may want to check the iodide levels in the tank since it promotes molting ( too much can be toxic) and if it's too low he won't molt enough or too high he'll molt too much and maybe(not sure) that would effect his coloration.
Also, what have you been feeding him?
I've read that a mantis's color can fade if they don't have a dark enough burrow. Typically they don't actually make their burrows unless an adequate one isn't provided. What you should do is get a black piece of pvc, cap one end(or put an elbow and allow for a back door), and put an elbow on the other. wedge it under your LR in the tank for realism. It should take to the manmade burrow quite quickly.
If his color isn't improving you may want to check the iodide levels in the tank since it promotes molting ( too much can be toxic) and if it's too low he won't molt enough or too high he'll molt too much and maybe(not sure) that would effect his coloration.
Also, what have you been feeding him?
Hwarang
New member
Hello nubreefer.
According to Dr. Caldwell (Gonodactylus is his name here), the resident expert and only stomotopodiatrist that I know of, the only thing that affects molting color is the spectrum of light that hits the mantis' eyes. Of course, you do bring up a good point about nutrition affecting stuff ... that seems quite logical.
I've been feeding her a variety of things. Some days she scavenges flake food (rarely tho, as she gets bigger she seems to like it less). Other days she gets frozen krill. Also the tank is restocked with 10 nassy snails every three weeks. She really loves those, there's a little pile of snail shells marking the entrance to her main burrow.
Here is a pic of her. She has molted 4-5 times since the pic and hasn't changed color much. I love her colors but I want that drab olive color on the top of her tail to morph into the fluorescent green I see in so many pix of N. Wennerae.
According to Dr. Caldwell (Gonodactylus is his name here), the resident expert and only stomotopodiatrist that I know of, the only thing that affects molting color is the spectrum of light that hits the mantis' eyes. Of course, you do bring up a good point about nutrition affecting stuff ... that seems quite logical.
I've been feeding her a variety of things. Some days she scavenges flake food (rarely tho, as she gets bigger she seems to like it less). Other days she gets frozen krill. Also the tank is restocked with 10 nassy snails every three weeks. She really loves those, there's a little pile of snail shells marking the entrance to her main burrow.
Here is a pic of her. She has molted 4-5 times since the pic and hasn't changed color much. I love her colors but I want that drab olive color on the top of her tail to morph into the fluorescent green I see in so many pix of N. Wennerae.
DensityMan
Active member
Gorgeous pic Hwarang!
And "ditto" to the lighting/color/feeding answer/recommendations...
And "ditto" to the lighting/color/feeding answer/recommendations...
