I have a g. chiragra and have had him for about a month and he refuses to eat anything frozen. He will eat hermit crabs, snails, and ghost shrimp but he wont even look at the mysis or krill i have been trying to feed him. I am a little worried because despite my efforts to feed mysis, i dont think he has eaten for about a week and a half. Today i brought home krill for him to eat and he wouldnt try it. I even speared it and out it right in his face he just walked by it. i have seen more than one mantis take krill with great enthusiasm, so i dont know whats wrong. i would appriciate any help. thanks
umm... help?
- Thread starter Kati
- Start date
THEMANTISMAN
New member
You could also try shoving a krill in a shell and see if he munches on that
Gonodactylus
Premium Member
Relax! Stomatopods rarely starve to death. There are three possibilities. 1. He is getting ready to molt. Large G. chiragra quit feeding at least a week to 10 days before molting.
2. There is something wrong with the animal. Since we know very little about stomatopod medical diagnosis and treatment, there is little you can do.
3. He is just being picky. Many stomaotpods are worse than spoiled cats that only will eat fresh tuna. They develop a preference for a particular food and that is all they will accept. Eventually, when the animal gets hungry enough, it will try someting else. Again, it will not starve, but be advised that they can go weeks without eating.
Another thought. What time of day are you trying to feed the animal? G. chiragra are day active and feed most often in the early morning and late afternoon. They do not typically feed at night. I've seen animals that would eat during the day, but totally ignore food at night.
Roy
2. There is something wrong with the animal. Since we know very little about stomatopod medical diagnosis and treatment, there is little you can do.
3. He is just being picky. Many stomaotpods are worse than spoiled cats that only will eat fresh tuna. They develop a preference for a particular food and that is all they will accept. Eventually, when the animal gets hungry enough, it will try someting else. Again, it will not starve, but be advised that they can go weeks without eating.
Another thought. What time of day are you trying to feed the animal? G. chiragra are day active and feed most often in the early morning and late afternoon. They do not typically feed at night. I've seen animals that would eat during the day, but totally ignore food at night.
Roy
sandlot13
New member
if it helps, my chiragra pretty much solely eats hermits and snails......... ive given it squid and silversides and shrimp, and it will aggressivly take the food, but wont eat it. I think that sometimes she buries the food, and other times she just lets it float away after a while......
psychodave
New member
if it comes down to it and he doesnt eat anything but hermits and snails...you can go to liveaquera.com or etropicals.com and build your own clean up crew and get TONS of hermits and snails for really cheap...I got a package and split it between Mitch, my Male G. Chiragra, and Twitch, my male G. Smithii and they both have several hermits and snails left after over a month!! Definately worth it, plus my tanks are now free of GHA.
