Mantis shrimp eating

[jackandrocco]

I’ve had my mantis for about more than two months now and it’s going great. Last friday the 6th I feed him an emerald crab and he did a pretty good job oh leaving no crumbs lol and he’s still only about 3 inches long. It’s now Sunday the 15th and he will not take any of the full manilla clams or half clams I’ve tried giving him he will throw them at me and not eat them. I know he’s gonna molt often since he’s little still and now that I say it out loud it hasn’t been that long since he ate but I’m starting to get nervous. I was thinking maybe he wants another crab?

 

[VintageReefer]

My mantis loved crabs and snails. Have you tried a snail?

 

[jackandrocco]

I have not tried snails yet but I have seen them at the Asian market and thought about it. What kind of snails do you give yours?

 

[bluemon]

I have not tried snails yet but I have seen them at the Asian market and thought about it. What kind of snails do you give yours?

People just give them the CUC they would get in bulk.

I just used to give mine shrimp from the market.

What species is it?

And you don’t have to give live, frozen shrimp would work well

 

[jackandrocco]

Ok sweet I’m gonna for sure look for some shrimp or snails next time at the market for something new for him.

I have a peacock!

 

[VintageReefer]

I have not tried snails yet but I have seen them at the Asian market and thought about it. What kind of snails do you give yours?

I fed live snails form the local fish store. Turbos and astrea

You can toss a bunch in. They will help clean the tank. And when he’s hungry he will go pick one on his own

 

[jackandrocco]

I fed live snails form the local fish store. Turbos and astrea

You can toss a bunch in. They will help clean the tank. And when he’s hungry he will go pick one on his own

I got two snails and he took one and started punching it and it was down in his burrow for a day and now I found the snail back outside but I’ll see if he’s taken it again when I’m home tonight

 

[VintageReefer]

I got two snails and he took one and started punching it and it was down in his burrow for a day and now I found the snail back outside but I’ll see if he’s taken it again when I’m home tonight

Might be too large for the mantis
What type of snail?

 

[Fish Fan]

Honestly, he may have just been toying with that snail. Not hungry enough to eat it, but not having it hanging around his borrow either.

 

[jackandrocco]

Honestly, he may have just been toying with that snail. Not hungry enough to eat it, but not having it hanging around his borrow either.

I can totally see this because he does it with clams sometimes too he’s a weirdo

 

[jackandrocco]

Might be too large for the mantis
What type of snail?

I’m not sure what kind they were the guy at the shop didn’t specify he told me there were turbos and another one and I said I’d like two of the smaller kind and he gave me two. I don’t think the one that he played with is to big tho unless it’s to thick for him to break.

 

[Fish Fan]

I can totally see this because he does it with clams sometimes too he’s a weirdo

He's doing his thing, I believe. They will indeed "play" with their prey. They are very capable critters for sure.

 

[Fish Fan]

Might be too large for the mantis
What type of snail?

The OP mentioned that they have a Peacock, which I believe is the largest Mantid, and dare I say a Peacock could take down my 9 year old niece

Just joking, but always great to see you, VR!

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

How do you get a mantis out of your display? I have one that has bit picking off stuff. It hitch hiked in back in November and I only first saw it about 2 months ago. I know the cave it calls home. Thoughts?

 

[Fish Fan]

How do you get a mantis out of your display? I have one that has bit picking off stuff. It hitch hiked in back in November and I only first saw it about 2 months ago. I know the cave it calls home. Thoughts?

They can be a bugger, and I'm not English There are simple traps that can help (even DIY from two water bottles), or in my experience they will come out for food. Tease it out over a still net with some meaty morsels, and then quickly swoop the net up. I'm sure there's other options too.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

They can be a bugger, and I'm not English There are simple traps that can help (even DIY from two water bottles), or in my experience they will come out for food. Tease it out over a still net with some meaty morsels, and then quickly swoop the net up. I'm sure there's other options too.

What is like their favorite food? The cave it lives in is literally a hole in a rock with the opening about the size of a nickel. Every night is seals its cave opening off. I don’t think there is a second opening for him to get out. I really don’t want to have to resort to gluing the hole closed with it in it.

 

[Fish Fan]

What is like their favorite food? The cave it lives in is literally a hole in a rock with the opening about the size of a nickel. Every night is seals its cave opening off. I don’t think there is a second opening for him to get out. I really don’t want to have to resort to gluing the hole closed with it in it.

So they have some very specific requirements for their tank and their hides. For Peacocks specifically, many build a tunnel system with two openings out of PVC, and then they burry that in the sand, and allow the Mantis to rearrange things as they see fit from there.

I would differ to @Stomatopods17, if they have a chance, maybe they can pop in here and help you further

 

[Fish Fan]

So they have some very specific requirements for their tank and their hides. For Peacocks specifically, many build a tunnel system with two openings out of PVC, and then they burry that in the sand, and allow the Mantis to rearrange things as they see fit from there.

I would differ to @Stomatopods17, if they have a chance, maybe they can pop in here and help you further

What is like their favorite food? The cave it lives in is literally a hole in a rock with the opening about the size of a nickel. Every night is seals its cave opening off. I don’t think there is a second opening for him to get out. I really don’t want to have to resort to gluing the hole closed with it in it.

Oh gosh! I thought I was replying to the OP, so I'm sure that made no sense to you lol!

They like nearly everything meaty or live. I could get mine to come out for a piece of fish or shrimp or anything on tongs. I enjoyed feeding mine that way, I wasn't trying to get rid of it..... Perhaps the bad vibes, maybe he knows you want him out - they are really smart, smarter then me for sure

Place a net down and let it settle. When things subside, place a little piece of shrimp over the net with your tongs. When the critter in question comes for the food, swiftly raise the net and get 'em.

Alternatively, cut a couple of cheap water bottles apart, and bait them like this:

seahorse.org - DIY Mantis Trap

Mantis Shrimp trap - bait suggestions? - Reef Central Online Community

Mantis Shrimp trap - bait suggestions? Reef Discussion

www.reefcentral.com

I hope that helps!

 

[VintageReefer]

They are very very intelligent creatures, i kept a peacock in a species tank for 5 years.

You would be best to wait for it to come out of the cave on its own during a hunting session and then Block the cave with a giant net and try to catch him / guide him with another net