Peacock Molting?

[sdunkin]

I have had a 4 inch Peacock Mantis for almost a month now, and I think she (I think it is a she) may be molting. I haven't seen her out much in the last 4-5 days, and last time I tried to feed her she took the krill but wouldn't eat it. She has the front entrance of her burrow blocked off with some rubble and a ball of macroalgae, but I still see her peeking out of the back entrance every once in a while. Is this normal molting behavior? How long will it take for it to be over?

I have been only turning on the actinic lights too try to keep the stress level down, but I really need to do a water change on the tank and I am afraid that it will stress her too bad to do so. Should I just wait it out?

Also, I am having problems with the current tank that she is in and I need to move her to another tank as soon as possible. How much longer should I wait until I move her?

Thanks

 

[Pea-brain]

I would avoid doing a water change until she comes out again. Not eating and closing up are common signs of molts. I would wait a week for her shell to harden before moving (after she comes out)

Dan

 

[Guygettnby]

my peacock took about 1 week to finish molting and come out. i agree with pea-brain, leave her alone for about 1 week after she comes back out and dont mess with the tank while she is molting. i lost my peacock from a failed molt.

 

[sdunkin]

Thanks for all the help

She seemed to be out a bit more today, and somewhat uncovered her one burrow entrance (there was still some rubble and macro over it, but she moved some of it too). I saw her to go the other side of the tank for the first time in almost a week, so I am guessing that she is getting close to being done molting?

I am still keeping just actinic lights on to try to keep the stress level as low as possible (there is still some extra lighting on the tank due to the ambient room lighting and from some of the light bleeding from my other tanks).