Mega concerned

[Heffer101]

so i have an n. wenerea (i think thats how they're spelled) in a 5 gal tank. i (tried) to feed it a couple weeks or days ago and it wouldn't eat. So today around 4pm, i tried to feed it again figuring that since i haven't fed it in a while, its hungry. Wrong. It wouldn't take the shrimp that i was giving it. It took it in its teeth-things and shoved it out of his cave like thing. It hasn't come out in a while so im wondering if its molting. if it isn't should i be worried. Theres nothing else in the tank for it to eat and its getting like covered in algae <- could that be a problem?

 

[justinl]

maybe it's stressed out? How are water parameters?

the algae tells me that it's getting overexposure to light. Does it have a sand bed, LR and small rubble to make a dark burrow? What lighting system are you using? N. wennerae are pretty good with light at all levels, but if its too strong, any mantis can develop shell rot.

If it's molting don't bother it. Don't even look at it if it's molting let alone feed it. Leave it completely alone until it comes out on its own accord.

if you feed it, soak the frozen food in a supplement.

 

[Heffer101]

the lighting system is just a lamp that i turn on. I have a live sand bed. All the rocks except the one that he's under is LR/Cured. The burrow is pretty dark but thats to my view, it looks like its (again) pretty dark.

 

[justinl]

Burrows are important so I would still throw in some rubble if you don't have any. not much, just less than a handful of small rocks. I took a piece of LR half the size of a fist and used a hammer to smash it up. If you don't like the look of the rubble, you can just throw it in the back where you can't see it well. The mantis will find it.

 

[Heffer101]

rubble? like could i just pick rocks and put them in or should i just buy some small lrs?

 

[Heffer101]

rubble? like could i just pick rocks and put them in or should i just buy some small lrs?

 

[justinl]

Ask your lfs for a bit of rubble. You could probably get it for free or very cheap. Take a piece about half the size of your fist and use a hammer to smash it.

I suppose you could just take pebbles but take them from a clean place (ex: not parking lot or trail gravel). I didn't do that because I thought a bunch of pebbles in a SW aquarium might look a little off. That's just me though.

 

[G.SMITHII]

just to chime in, ROCKS AND RUBLE ARE EXTREMLY IMPORTANT!

In a 15gal i have 28lbs of lr. (the biggest piece is 5lbs)

i'd say for your 5gal, go for like 10lbs. maybe 5lbs in 1 or 2 bigger rocks, then another 5 in rubble.

how deep is your sand? dont know if that species burrows or not.

and id stay away from anything other than LR. the bennifits of LR are too numorus to for go in a mantis tank.

what are you specif params.? alk, calc, no2, no3, amonia, phosphates etc?

 

[Heffer101]

ammonia is null, nitrate null and nitrite is null.

 

[G.SMITHII]

COOL. your nitrogen cycle is uber good. no excess natural waste problems.

algae.

algae means nitrates or phosphates. usually.

check phosphates.

no phos? then why you have algae is beyond me. that stuff grows by feeding on the excess phos. and no3 in the water.

but for the mantis' heathh...

maybe metals?

metals can be real bad for like all stuff, but especially invets. copper, aluminum etc. they make kits for what you REALLY need to be aware of.

if you aint got no metals..... you gotta talk to Dr. Roy or waterkeeper.... or

maybe he just doesnt like what yer tryin to feed it?
have you tried other stuff?

 

[Heffer101]

i didn't check the phosphates frankly cuz i don't know how to. I'll get my friend to. I haven't really tried anything else but frozen shrimp. i did try brine shrimp once but they all got sucked up by the filter and i don't know if he ate some. But i'll definatley try to test the phospahtes. Thanks!

 

[justinl]

Just go buy a test kit for it. I don't imagine it would be so hard. ... although getting a friend to do it IS much easier.

Mine doesn't bother with brine shrimp and I doubt others would as an adult... too small a meal. The general grocery store bought meal for a mantis includes shrimp, squid, scallop, clam... basically most seafood really. I feed mine shrimp, squid, and clam (I don't use clam very often). If you got them, you can use silversides, but i don't bother.

every two or three feedings I use a marine food supplement (couple of drops of selcon). Yours is sick, so you'll want to do that for every feeding.

 

[DanInSD]

Phosphates and nitrates can be zero and still have algae; the algae can be eating up the excess. Remember that what you measure in the water is what is left over after everything has done its consumption.

A macroalgae refugium is very helpful not only for nitrate and phosphate reduction but also for general water quality, raising microcrustaceans which are beneficial for scavenging, and all that stuff. Highly advised, you can pick up semi-DIY fuges for cheap on eBay.

Dan

 

[G.SMITHII]

oh yea...

good call dan in san diego