Mantis not eating

[Parker Coffin]

I have a 1 inch blue dagger mantis shrimp Neogonodactyus curacaoensis here is a picture http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/pics/caldwell_n_curacaoensis.htm He is not eating since i chaught him in my 75 gallon reef tank. I moved him to a 5 gallon bow tank he ate fine when i batied the traps to catch him. He has not eaten since i put him in 3 weeks ago. I have tried freeze dried krill , misiy shrimp, gost shrimp, but he just thows it out do i need more hiding places, different food. Oh ya and he lives in a cave with a hermit crab.

 

[Parker Coffin]

PLease help?

 

[Gonodactylus]

N. curacaoensis is a fairly difficult species to keep. They seem to be a fairly picky species with respect to food and shelter. Still, it is not unusual for a gonodactylid to go for a couple of weeks without food when moved. ALso, very large individuals may go for a couple of weeks without eating when a molt is approaching. Offer very small portions of food each day and my guess is that the animal will eventually start eating.

Roy

 

[Parker Coffin]

Ok. What do you sugust feeding?

 

[Gonodactylus]

I have several in my lab right now and we feed them live brine shrimp soaked in Selco. They seem to prefer live food. We also use small crabs. Some of them will take frozen shrimp, others won't.

Roy