New mantis hasn't taken frozen krill yet

[Carinya]

I got an N. Wenn. (Manny) on 6/22 from a LFS employee who had kept him for a couple months but could no longer house him. The guy said Manny was eating flake food for him, so I figured he'd be good if I fed him a steady diet of meaty frozen foods supplemented by occasional hermits and/or snails. Off the bat, I put in some ghost shrimp that he seems to have eaten, followed by 5 small hermits and 3 snails, all of which he has eaten except for one snail. During this period I have tried to give him frozen krill twice. Once when the ghost shrimp were gone from the tank and the hermits/snails had not yet been purchased and once tonight when the live food is running a bit low. Both times he grabbed the krill and moved it as far from his lair as he could. I left it in there about an hour but took it out, lest it foul the water.

Is he just too well-fed on live food and prefers the live stuff so he's rejecting the frozen for now? I'm not really going to be able to keep him on a steady diet of live food day in & day out...it was meant to be more of a treat & something to keep his smashers intact.

So, does this sound OK to you guys, do you have suggestions? Should I just chill out & he'll eat the frozen when he gets hungry enough? I just want to take good care of him & head off any potential problems.

TIA,
C

 

[Sinalie]

I think you have him pretty well fed for now. I would offer him frozen krill once a day and make it move by using a plastic skewer. I would do this for a few days if he doesn't eat try the next day. Keep trying everyday. at least for a week then give in.

 

[luvabunny]

You might try a different brand also, or even some other type of frozen food.
My seahorses eat frozen mysis, but they definitely have their preferences as to which brand they like. Could be he doesn't like the taste.

 

[Carinya]

I will try both of those suggestions. First, probably will continue to offer the current frozen krill for the remainder of this week. Then this weekend when I can get to the LFS I'll pick up a different brand of krill or something else about that size. I have frozen mysis too but although I may be wrong, it seems a bit small for Manny. Who knows though.

Separately, April, you have pretty much my ideal array of fishtanks! Except instead of reidi I'd go with a capensis tank and perhaps a slightly larger reef. *sigh* one day I may be so lucky!

Thanks for the advice.
C

 

[Carinya]

He ate it last night. Thanks again.

 

[Sinalie]

That's Great, I'm happy to hear that!!! Enjoy!!!!!
Sinalie