Smasher mantis

[bear27]

I have a Smasher mantis that seems to have lost his smashers. Hes been this way for a couple of weeks, he still eats, digs and all the other usual mantis stuff. Since Im new to mantis shrimp Im wondering if its common for this to happen or if its the first stages of molting

 

[pisces77]

sometimes they will tear off damaged appendage. After multiple molts, they can grow back.

 

[bear27]

Ok so what are the best ways to encourage the mantis to molt and how long does it take

 

[nubreefer]

Keep your water quality very high, buy an iodine test kit and make sure levels are appropriate(some arument about this), provide a dark, adequate burrow, and feed him well with frozen or soft bodied foods so that he can get at them.