Mantis weakened - lights on/off?

[andromedia226]

Hi all,

This is a cry out to everyone - if you have even the smallest hint or idea that could help me out, please take a second to leave a comment! (trying for a stacatto, voice cracking shriek)

It seems that by the time my mantis' are delivered to my LFS's, they're either in a failed molt, undernutritioned, or soulless from spending 3 months in a .5 gallon display tank with bright light.


Question: I've taken to "rescuing" these guys chiefly because there aren't any other ways to get mantises here.

So: my G. Platy is 3.5" long, female, and she was at the LFS for 3 months in the above environment. When I asked if she'd molted, the guy at the store (huge aquaruim store in San Jose) said "Whaa?" (head slanted to the side, drool at the very corner of his lip)...

So I'm assuming that she hadn't molted for a long time. I took her home, and she was very happy. big burrow, lots of rock to hide in, and a whole tuxedo-dressed clean up crew to party with.

BUT! The second day in her new mansion, she opted to VERY quickly speed out of her hole, do flips in the water above, and dive bomb down (crash) headfirst into the rubble rocks. And she stayed there just like that for hours.

Two days later she has moved a little bit to other parts in the tank, but never moving much, always curled up, and never in her hole. just Curled up fetal position in random live rock crevaces. Never in the open. When she moves it's fast and sporadic lunges. I checked her dorsal links for anything that'd indicate a failed molt, and there's no indication of that.

QUESTION:
-What do you think this behavior means?
-Is there anything you'd suggest I do?
-She is in a reef tank. Should I turn back on the 130watt lighting, or just leave only the actinics on, or no lights?


Thanks everyone, if you have even the smallest hint to give, I'd really appreciate your help!

 

[Pea-brain]

This is very strange. I know little about mantises, but If I were you I would dim or turn off the lights. They probably aren't helping, and theres no idea as to whether or not they are hurting. Also, because of the strange behavior I'd have to say either A: Some wierd failed molt. It may be trying to jack knife even though its skin isn't ready, which may explain the sporadic movements. or B: Brain malfunction. It could have damged its brain in that dive, malnutrition is taking its toll, some disease is messing with it's nervous system, chemical imbalance. Again, I'm completely clueless, just some thoughts. I wish you and your mantis well.

 

[andromedia226]

Thanks for the a really great start to the brain storm session!!!

 

[Pea-brain]

Another thought: Parasites. Some parasites have the ability to manipulate a host to make it more vulnerable to predation which results in the parasite getting to its final host so it can reproduce. A noteable one (I think theres like 6 commonly known ones, and probly many we don't know) infect ants that forage near cow manure. The eggs are in the manure. When the ant consumes the egg the ant starts acting strange. During dusk the ant will crawl on to a tall blade of grass where it is likely to be eaten. If a cow eats it, it completes its life cycle and breeds. If it isn't eaten it goes back to the colony and acts normal until next dusk. In this case the mantis shrimp may be darting to catch the attention of a predator. when the predator eats it it can complete it's life cycle. Just another (very, very, highly unlikely) thought. again, good luck