peacock shrimp can't smash?

[Kigs]

my peacock mantis shrimp can't seem to smash his food for some reason. one of his smashers is unfolded and sticking out, instead of being in a mantis-form(folded and under his eyes). before he was trying to eat some huge turbo snails, could he have hurt it in the process? is this even common for mantis' to "sprain' their smashers?

 

[Kigs]

I've added pictures to show what I mean. He literally seems to drag his smasher around.

i have an urchin in there, and i think it might've got stabbed by it in the stomach? could he have caused this?

 

[Wocka]

ah man i donno what caused that but he looks funny to be dragging it like that. looks interesting. i worry about my mantis sometimes too

 

[Frostyeel]

Doesn't look healthy at all, I think you need Dr. Roy's opinion on this.

 

[smasher]

His other one looks ok though so I'd think he'd still hit his food with that one wouldn't he? none of mine have ever had that

 

[Kigs]

that's what i thought too, but every time he sets the snail into the sand to hit it, he doesn't use the other one. then he spinds it around a little more with his non-smashing legs.

the urchin couldn't have played a role in it right? i definitely think it's paralyzed or something... he just doesn't do the click anymore. he attempts to with the other leg, but ...doesn't.

 

[JmLee]

paging dr Roy , i would like to know whats up as well.

 

[Kigs]

i've sent him a pm, hopefully he could look into this =\

 

[JmLee]

cool man let us know because u have a beautiful mantis.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Both raptorial appendages appear damaged. You mention the animal attempting to eat some turbos. I assume you saw/heard striking or did the animal arrive in this condition. It is not uncommon for stomatopods to break their second maxillipeds. This can occur at either the carpal - meral or the propodal - dactyl joint. Your animal has one of each. Typically this happens when the animal gets the dactyl stuck in a net and injures the appendage when trying to pull free or when it strikes and misses the target over-extending the appendage. Alternatively, if the animal is preparing to molt and has started to resorb calcium for the exoskeleton, forcing it to strike can also damage the weakened joints. Finally, collectors and shippers will sometimes deliberately break the joint so that the animal cannot strike when being handled. However, in the last scenario, they usually just remove the dactyls.

Anyway, what's done is done. The prognosis for the appendage is not good. I have seen a few animals recover function, but more typically they will have to molt to repair the damage. The real question is whether the appendage will have to be removed and completely regenerated (3 molts - probably 6-8 months) or whether the internal structure can be repaired in a single molt with the appendage in tact. The animal will make that decision. It will either tear off the appendage or leave it intact. If if leaves it in tact, there is still a chance that it will become stuck during the molt and either be torn off then or kill the animal.

Sorry not to be able to offer a better prognosis, but the raptorial appendage is what makes a stomatopod a stomatopod - but it is also a very complex structure subjected to incredible forces and sometimes it breaks.

The best think you can do is pour the soft food t the animal and hope.

By the way, I notice in the photo what appears to be some shell disease developing on the side of the animal. Make sure it has a good dark burrow, do some partial water changes if your nitrate is up, and perhaps add some nutrient supplement such as Selco to the food you are feeding it. Freeze-dried krill with a couple of drops of supplement added to it works fairly well for me.

Good luck.

Roy

 

[Kigs]

Thank you for the response Roy.

This is sad news. I love the little guy... I can't believe this.

Is there any way I can promote the molting process? Also, what kind of fast food can I feed him and how? I've seen in few threads of people feeding them with a straw? or should I just let the food float around the tank?

He had no problems smashing things before those giant turbos... I should've known. This really sux. I'm really hoping he can pull through this. He is such a beatiful creature.

He is a pretty big mantis (about 6 ~ 7'') and I read that big sized mantis already with shell disease has trouble molting. Do you think he can pull through?

 

[Gonodactylus]

Stomatopods have substanial mandibles and can eat solid food without having to smash it. Raw shrimp, broken snails or scallops, freeze dried krill, etc. are all appropriate.

The shell disease that I could see wasn't so bad that it would necessarily prevent molting, but you want him to molt sooner than later.

Roy

 

[Kigs]

I'll try the diet, thanks again Roy. I'll keep updating of his progress.

 

[psychodave]

good luck Vince, I hope your mantis pulls through

 

[JmLee]

sorry dude =( best of luck for the little guy.

 

[Kigs]

Thank you for the support guys,

I followed Roy's recommendation and fed him some Krill and raw shrimp. He seems to have no problem eating, hopefully he will molt soon. I'm going to stay optimistic on this one.

 

[psychodave]

I would imagine that as long as he keeps eating and eventually molts he whould be fine...(keeping fingers crossed)

 

[Thurge]

It's a good time to try teaching him to eat from your hand.

Feed him as much as he will eat, so that he can devote the most energy to repair. I remember reading somewhere that if a mantis damages one dactyl they will molt normally, but when both are damaged they will devote all their excess energy to repair and will molt more often to complete them. You might also gve him several feedings a day.

 

[Kigs]

Thurge and psychodave, that gives me more hope about healing this guy. I'm just so relieved that this is a common case, and not some weird situation that nobody can diagnose. Everybody's been very helpful with the situation, thank you.

I've taken out the margarita snails, so he would stop attempting to use his dactyl. Right now, he is able to bend and unbend one of the dactyls, but can't seem to smash so he just spins the snail around in his other hands.

Thanks to Stop & Shop seafood section, I've been able to get him variety of food today. Unfortunately, none of my LFS seems to carry Selco...so I might have to order online.

Here are some pictures of him eating his jumbo shrimps. After I dropped it in, I realized that I should've chopped it up for him, but of course, he was already all over it. lol

Roy, I'm just wondering how you were able to tell that both of his dactyls were damaged? Of course, one of them is obviously damaged, but the other one he has no trouble bending/unbending...though he can't seem to use it. I'm just wondering what clues you saw in the picture that told you both were damaged.

 

[sandlot13]

sorry to see that happen to your mantis........ its always a sad day when a mantis is injured under our care. Hopefully it gets well soon!!!