Gharner's Pico Reef Journal

gharner

gharner

Member
haha yeah i love this little guy!!! he was digging sand out of his lair and piling it up out side then he murdered a snail and enjoyed a little snack. now he's just kinda chillin in his new den. he's layin on his side watchin out of the side entrance to his little cave
 
gharner

gharner

Member
ps: i was also extremely surprised that he went for a snail. i wasnt gonna feed him for a few days till he got used to his surroundings but after he was in the tank for only 15 minutes he tried to catch some large pods.....i figured he was pretty hungry. there was a snail on the rock above his den so i used a skewer to push it over the rock to its death
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
Originally Posted by gharner
http:///forum/post/2473270
ps: i was also extremely surprised that he went for a snail. i wasnt gonna feed him for a few days till he got used to his surroundings but after he was in the tank for only 15 minutes he tried to catch some large pods.....i figured he was pretty hungry. there was a snail on the rock above his den so i used a skewer to push it over the rock to its death

That's funny that he was going after large pods, Gingi did that too and I thought is was the funniest thing, especially considering her size compared to the pods size.
 
gharner

gharner

Member
HELP!!!! I HOPE EVERYTHING IS OK BUT MY MANTIS IS LYING ON HIS BACK OUTSIDE OF HIS DEN....HE IS STILL MOVING HIS APPENDAGES BUT HE ISNT RESPONDING TO ANYTHING.......I EVEN TOUCHED HIM WITH A SKEWER AND HE DIDNT RESPOND!!!!
IS HE OK??? HE WAS ACTING FINE THIS MORNING AND ACTUALLY BEING KINDA ACTIVE BUT NOW HES JUST LAYIN THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE HELP
 
gharner

gharner

Member
ok....i moved the tank a little and he rolled over and went back into his burrow.....he is right side up but he almost looks a little lethargic....i dont know what to do. is it possible that he is about to molt or is having a failed molt and just doesnt have a comfortable/dark den to molt in???
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
I know you said you were going to drip acclimate him, but did you end up doing it? Did you give him a 24 hour dark period? I forget, what type of lights do you have? He may be stressed...
 
gharner

gharner

Member
the algea is grape caulerpa i think...
the light is 18 watt compact flourescent that came with the tank...
i did drip acclimate him for 30-45 minutes after i temp acclimated him. he seemed a little better this evening. i kept the lights off all day but they are on now. i placed in a new rock that provides him a better den but he is still reluctant to leave his old one.

now he is still layin on his back but he is looking around and when i place the bamboo skewer near him he grabs it.....
 
gharner

gharner

Member
params:
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 20ppm
sp. gravity: 1.025
everything looks good...trates are a little high for my liking, but not anything that would be causing my mantis to act weired
 
gharner

gharner

Member
i also contacted the place that i ordered the little guy from and they said it sounds like hes stressed. they said not to feed him or disturb him. i was also told to keep the light cycle the same and to check him daily. we'll see.....
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
Stress was what I thought it probably was as well. I hope the poor little guy is going to be ok
Keep us updated on how he his doing.
 
gharner

gharner

Member
He's not doing well at all. im pretty sure that he's dead, and if he's not completely dead he will be shortly i think. there is already a nass. snail like right beside him waitin to eat.
im kinda depressed right now.......and i cant believe that after all of my success keeping a reef tank, i cant keep a manits shrimp that most people would consider a pest alive!!! i dont know.....i'll get another one some day, but for now im broke............
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
This is too sad
It sounds like you did everything right as far as acclimation and whatnot, so I don't think that this was your fault. Probably just really stressed from being shipped, and wasn't well since. I'm so sorry this happened, I am still going to hope that he will pull through. You should contact the stomatopod site and maybe they will send you another one, not that getting another one will make you feel better about losing this one, but at least maybe you could try again
 
crashbandicoot

crashbandicoot

Active Member
I'm so sorry to hear your little feller isn't doing good . I will say a little mantis prayer for you both . I know its heart wrenching to loose a pet like that . Sometimes It just happenes and no matter what you do its just in the destiny of it all . Keep your chin up .
 
gharner

gharner

Member
yeah.....thanks guys. he is definately dead. i disposed of him about an hour ago. i already contacted the stomatopod site via email and they will replace the little fella....i just have to cover the shipping cost. im not sure when im gonna order again cause im not off of school for a while so acclimating would be difficult. i might just take a sick day some time this week
but first i need to scrape together the money for shipping.
im upset about losing little death smasher....but at the same time im ready to get another and try again. im gonna do a 50-60% water change just to be on the safe side later today. sigh......lets try again
 
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sexyshrimp101

Guest
I am so sorry for your loss
It's got to be hard. Next time when you get him, after you drip acclimate him for about an hour, give him a 24 hour dark period in order to reduce stress and give him time to adjust to his new home. The sudden light can get them stressed, so just a suggestion for Death Smasher Jr.
That is nice of them to replace him too
 
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