Mantis in mourning?

[Frozen Roadkill]

Alright, I know mantis probably dont have as complex emotions as us (if you believe they do have emotions) but my mantis really does seem to be sad. A couple weeks ago, while trading in my leaking tank my fish made a leap of faith from the bowl it was hanging in while I raced to the LFS. This fish, a coris wrasse, has lived with my mantis for about 10 months. When I had the fish, my mantis, a very docile wennerae, would come out occasionaly, but would at least come a little bit out of his hole in the rock to look around and beg for food. But in the weeks the fish has been gone, the mantis doesnt stick so much as an anntenae out. I have shined a flashlight in his hole and see that she is just hanging out behind the entrance, not molting. She doesnt grab food as readily from me (I hand feed her, she used to grab it but now will make you put it in the hole, and will only MAYBE then eat it), and doesnt eat as much. Not even the special treat of a sliver of silverside can temp her.

Now, I know she probably does "miss" the fish, but I really do think she misses the company of another living creature. She really does seem to be the mantis equivilant of "depressed" What do you guys think? Any similar experiences?

 

[Skipper2]

I have only had my Mantis for about 3 months now. We moved him from the large reef tank to a biocube. After the move he hid for about 1 week and would only barely look out. I felt that he might be bored and we bought 2 small clown fish (also for us to have some movement in the tank) and he seems to watch them. Then he went into molt period for 4 days. After the molt he took his time coming out but would eat like crazy. Just today (about 2 weeks after the molt) he is climbing all over the rock and excavating underneath it. He has never climbed all around before today. It seems that any change that we have done (move rocks, add sand, etc.) he hides for a while until he is comfortable then comes out. I have a N. Wennere also. All I can suggest is to check your water and everything and if all is in normal range then just give him some time, a few days and if nothing changes maybe get him some little friends to watch. I have also noticed that when I feed him a lot he doesn't come out to play very much. Again I am new at this and can only tell you what I have observed with my own mantis. Let me know how things go.