Peacock Molting

[SkinnyPete]

My large male peacock has molted successfully 3 times since I've had him. I've never actually witnessed the molting, so I'm not sure how long it usually takes. He's gotten his abdomen off, but he's been trying to wiggle out of his carapace for hours now. He's just laying on his back right now in his burrough, barely moving. Is it usually this difficult to molt, or could we have a problem?

 

[SkinnyPete]

Just realized that I spelled "burrow" like an idiot. I'm a fan of William S. Burroughs, if that helps.

 

[catalyst]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8767320#post8767320 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SkinnyPete
Just realized that I spelled "burrow" like an idiot. I'm a fan of William S. Burroughs, if that helps.

:rollface:

 

[SkinnyPete]

Peacock Molting (stuck?)

Peacock Molting (stuck?)

Quick update. The little guy seems to have survived overnight, but he is definitely still stuck in the molt. It is really hard to tell exactly what is stuck. I don't want to bother him, but looking into his BURROW, it looks like the front few legs, possibly the smashers, are stuck. I know that they will usually tear off the appendage if it is hindering the molt process, but he does not appear to have done that. Nothing I can do but just wait and see? I feel helpless.

 

[caynus]

SkinnyPete,

Unfortunately, its exactly like you said, there is nothing you can do but wait and see.
Often having the dactyls caught in a molt is a pretty good sign something is going wrong, and from what i've heard it is one of the most common causes of death during molts. However you cant go in their and help him because stress is also commonly fatal during the molting period.

I dont know why, but when the dactyls are caught during a molt they are incapable or reluctant to tear off the appendage, resulting is stress and prolonging of the molt which often leads to death. I think this is very likely due to the fact that in the wild, a dactyl-less mantis shrimp would be defenseless and incapable of getting a good solid meal, so they try and save them as much as possible.

I hope it all works out, keep us posted,
Caynus

 

[mattyice]

yes unfortunately there is nothing you can do, im worried about my peacock so im moving everything i can over to the fuge in case she is worried about the snails and hermits

 

[catalyst]

Pete:

how did things turn out?

well, I hope ...

 

[SkinnyPete]

Unfortunately, after a 3 days stuck in the molt, I returned from work to find Dr. Gonzo dead on his back :-(

I did not test for iodine, but did test for nitrate and I think 5 ppm is acceptable. I do biweekly water changes with Oceanic Salt so I assumed I'd be okay with iodine levels, but that might be my ignorance. I'm going to break down the tank (because we've been wanting to redo our wood floors, so might as well have those chemicals now without having to move a mantis away from them), then probably order another small one from a local store that I trust. Got this one pretty much full sized and as some of you may have read - the specific gravity was through the roof in the pet store water that I got him from, so he removed his appendages and they weren't fully grown back when he died. I never saw him use them.

I'll buy an iodine test kit and hopefully get a smaller animal next time. This site has been a tremendous help and I visit it frequently. Will return with pics of my next mantis.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Save your money. THere is no evidence that stomatopods require unusual levels of iodine for molting and the amount found in almost all commercial marine mixes is more than adequate.

Roy