My Peacock Mantis is a "*****"

[Fehres]

Since a few days I have a Odontodactylus Scyllarus. The little mantis is 12 centimeters long and only eats death fish. Gastropods/Turbo's/Shrimps don't have his interest! If i present him a Turbo he take's the Turbo and puts him in a corner....
Does anybody have the same experience?

(P.S. sorry for my bad English, I am from Holland)

Rgds, Fehres. :bounce3:

 

[acrodave]

dont feed it any more fish for a while and i bet it will go after them

 

[TrappedMetal]

this may sound silly, but does it have its appendages?

 

[Gonodactylus]

I once did an experiment with O. scyllarus providing a cafeteria of foods - fish, clams small thin shelled snails, hard shelled snails. We recorded how much time and the number of strikes it took to eat the various items and which were selected first, etc. The experiment didn't work very well because the stomatopods chose the prey that gave the most food per effort and as long as that item (fish, squd or clams) had been on the menu, they would go for a couple of weeks before taking a more expensive item. If you want to have them take crabs and snails, you will probably have to wean them off soft food. Not all individuals are this picky, but many are. That said, animals approaching or just after a molt shift to soft prey because they can't handle armored animals.

Roy

 

[spectrascott]

Not sure what I have as it does not come out much. The little guy is about an inch to and inch and a half long but does take snails and small hermits. I finaly saw a smashed shell after almost a week in then ew tank. I can hear it wacking the shells but figured it would not break through well finaly did. Tried feeding krill and it did take it but then after a few minutes it tossed it out of its lare. Good luck with yours and keep us posted on what works the best for food.

 

[Fehres]

This week no more fish for the mantis. There is enough other living food in the tank. Just wait and see.
Keep you all posted.

Grds, Fehres.:bounce2:

 

[Fehres]

Yes!
It worked. The Mantis has become a full time smasher.

 

[cichlid333]

can't wait to hear if he'll go after them, i bet he will once he's not offered anything else good luck keep us posted