The death of a Mantis :(

[Limbo]

I'm sorry to post this, but my beloved Mantis, Norman, got involved with an anemone I had picked up from the gulf coast. The anemone and he had lived together for over 6 months without incident. I had watched Norman investigate the anemone on several occasions and watched him back off from it. I'm guessing the current caught Norman off guard and he got trapped in the tentacles. I managed to free him from the death grip and Norman survived for several days afterwards. He stayed curled up most of the time hardly moving, but would take food. In the end he lost the fight and must have been too injured to recover.

I have learnt my lesson and I'm sorry that something had to die for me to realize the mistake I had made. It is my mistake for getting the compatibility so wrong.

Please take note of my experience. Mantis Shrimps are wonderful creatures and I was lucky to have had the chance to look after one. His cube will now be turned into an anemone/clown tank. I will look to get another Mantis down the road, but cannot replace him right now. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s not right to pick another off the shelf, they are not ornaments to just be replaced.

Norman, you will be sorely missed. R.I.P.

 

[AttackDonut]

It happens to all of us. Sorry for your loss

 

[SW Fan]

Sorry for your loss

 

[lisajulia]

This puts things in perspective...I have been TRYING to get a Mantis out of my 72gal display tank for about a year.....I want to put "Godzilla" in my cube...but it just isn't working..and he's eating everything....snails, crabs...and I am so frustrated...I have looked at Godzilla as nothing more than a big pain in the neck..but after reading this...I should be happy to have him...and if I catch him...I am sure I will be happier with him in a cube where he can't cause mass destruction.
I am so sorry for your loss!!

 

[Agu]

My condolences !!

What type of anemone from the Gulf coast do you have ? As far as I know the only native anemones are condylactis, rock anemone, and flower anemones. None are aggressive enough to capture a healthy mantis.

Some of the Indo Pacific anemones could capture a mantis but it would be long gone before you saw it.

My guess is that your mantis was already having problems when the anemone "caught" it.

jmo,