Many mantis died after molt.

[Timmy]

I have a big problem. I have lost 19 mantis shrimps after they molt.
It seems that they are attacked by small killers after the molt.

The water parameters are very good and stable. I do only a monthly water change with 10%. I used the new water in some other tanks and there are no problems.

Dr. Roy, do you now some about parasites that kill mantis shrimps and what can i do?

 

[Timmy]

Here is a pic.
They are only 2-3 mm.

 

[30mini]

Looks a little like a Cirolanid Isopod! Bad little critters for sure, and they may not be able to attach to the mantids before the molt, but after molt they can b/c of the soft shell?? Not totally positive though

 

[Gonodactylus]

Timmy,

I've never had this problem with an isopod infestation, but they are voracious predators. I'm sorry that I can't make a suggestion short of quaranteen when you think an animal is going to molt.

Roy

 

[Timmy]

Ok.
The best thing i can do is clean all the tanks and start with new rocks and sand.

 

[JmLee]

best of luck timmy. Im sorry to hear about your misfortunes.

 

[Uriel]

Dammit, for such noble Jaguars of the Sea to be picked off by Rats....Grrr.

Good luck Timmy..


-Uriel

 

[Altpers0na-old]

will a manderin eat em?

 

[Dave Legacy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8046241#post8046241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Altpers0na
will a manderin eat em?

Yeah! Get something that will eat pods.

 

[Thurge]

I think you are onto your only course of action Timmy. Even if you find something to eat the pods, I would say it will take very few isopods to kill the mantis, and the size you say they are would make them vry adept at hiding from a fishy predator. I would even freshwater dip the mantis before moving into the new home.


There was an episode of Dangerous Catch where they set their traps and when they pulled them back up all that was left was crab shell from being eaten by what they called sand fleas, but I would suspect they were Isopods.