Peacock appendages wearing down

[apophis924]

Hey Yall i got a 3 inch peacock mantis and lately all i have been feeding him is snails crabs and shrimps. he also has been doing a LOT of rebuilding and hammering away at live rock. His "hammers" used to have a good size bulb at the end of them But lately they are more flat and definelty worn down and begining to take on a flat appearence. Will they grow back or do i have to wait for the next molt and in the mean time should i start feeidng him only soft foods?

 

[Gonodactylus]

The dactyl heels typically are worn and flat. They should regenerate and become slightly more rounded at the next molt. They will not regenerate without a molt. It they break or wear through, the animal will usually tear them off and start over.

I would not recommend shifting to a softer food. The animal needs to strike to maintain muscle tone and successfully molt.

 

[apophis924]

Great I will keep feeding snails and crabs , I prefer to listen to the snap and pop of him handling his foods.
Thanks Gono :thumbsup:

 

[Uriel]

It they break or wear through, the animal will usually tear them off and start over.

Good Gawd...

Talk about a tough-guy.

"Dammit, this won't do, I had better tear off my arms and start over. Stupid molt...'

 

[Gonodactylus]

Unlike lobsters and crabs, stomatopods cannot drop a claw at will. They lack the special joint and muscles that allow this. Therefore when the appendage is damaged and useless, they can either wait until they molt and then start the regeneration process the following molt, or they can physically grab hold of the raptorial appendage using the other maxillipeds and twist it off. This allows them to immediately start the regeneration process and it also avoids the possibility of the old damaged appendage getting stuck during the molt.

Roy

 

[AW2EOD]

These animals never cease to amaze me. I would have never thought that they'll rip off one of their own appendages just to get a head start on the new one growing in.

I mean...what other animal in the wild do you know that will do that? That's awesome.

If for some stranger reaon...even though it's VERY unlikely...and I have to get rid of all my other salt tanks, I will always have a tank set up for a mantis.

 

[AuContraire]

to them it's no different than clipping fingernails

 

[apophis924]

to them it's no different than clipping fingernails

Think you missunderstood excatly what is being said about theses animals removing appendages. It is one thing to remove the calcium deposits at the end of the "arm" What is being said is that these animlas remove the whole "arm". More like tearing off a finger to take care of a hang nail.

 

[AuContraire]

but to them it's no different, they just replace the arm

 

[DreXor]

if your arm would grow back in perfect condition, and you beat or broke the heck out of your current one, would you rather deal with the busted arm for months on end, or just start growing a spankin new one?

As far as i understand, it would take less time to regen one in good condition than to wait out a possible failed heal, on top of that it might get torn off anyhow in a molt. i dont blame them for just saying the heck w/ it and ripping it off.

i would if i could lol

 

[AuContraire]

Then you could make your own armburgers.