Mantis!

[cranberry]

It's Thursday....... I hear you pacing the floor......

 

[rlablan]

I am biting my nails just waiting.
Stand on the stoop and when the driver pulls up, run to the truck and get the package before he messes with it and shakes it!!

 

[the_bandit]

Its here.
Tank temp is 78F. Mantis water is 74. Floating the bag in the sump along with my water dripping into the bag at the moment. Salinity in my tank is 1.024-1.025. Mantis bag is 1.024-1.025. It moves a little bit but is timid. Trying to hide underneath the folds of the bag.
How long should I acclimate him? 2 or 3 hours? Also should I just leave the bag in the sump the the temp will stay constant or should I put him in the styrofoam box? When releasing him, should I net him or just pour him in with mine and the Mantis water?
Get this. I ran to the Fedex guy, he sets it on the ground instead of giving it to me, then says "Hope it's still alive" What the hell is that suppose to mean!?!

 

[cranberry]

I would still acclimate him for about 3 hours.
Net him out.
Oh lord I hope he does well.

 

[the_bandit]

The first Mantis I got, I netted him out and he freaked. Tried jumping out of the tank. You sure I shouldnt just add my water and his at the same time and do a less stressful release?

 

[browniebuck]

I know that most people say that you shouldn't add the shipping water, but I take that to mean more with fish, as there could be copper or other chemicals in the water as well. If you were to add SOME of the water from an invert bag, I think that you would be ok. I would dump most of the water (or scoop it out) and then add the shrimp with the remainder of the water (enough to keep the shrimp covered should be plenty).

 

[the_bandit]

I understand and will probably take most of the water out. How could there be copper in the bag or the water if the Mantis is still alive? It was probably in the bag for 9 -/+ hours.

 

[cranberry]

I think he was saying the "don't add the water" advice stems from shipping fish and the copper their water can contain. Not sure if people ship fish in copper water though.
I personally would not add the water.
You wouldn't have used a green net would you?

 

[the_bandit]

I wont add alot of water only maybe a cup which includes the Mantis.
What about the green net?

 

[cranberry]

All of mine have hated green nets.

 

[the_bandit]

Its in!!! And ALIVE!!!!
Already eating a hermit. It is truly glorious!
When I put it in simply releasing it into the tank, it went straight to the PVC tunnel and is checkin everything out.
Woohoo!!!!

 

[cranberry]

This is excellent news! Can't wait to see them.

 

[the_bandit]

Tada Best I can do

 

[the_bandit]

Is it normal for him to put his "face" to the ground and bend his body to where it is kind of pointed? He has done this a couple times.

 

[cranberry]

I'm having trouble picturing that.

 

[the_bandit]

Maybe this will help a little.

 

[cranberry]

And his face is down?
Okay, I just saw the arrow.
I don't think I've seen that behaviour before.

 

[rlablan]

So I just got home!
Read everything!!
What is up with him now... Is he okay? Everything still good and going well???

 

[the_bandit]

Well, he stopped doing it. Not sure what it was but it stopped I think.
Right now he is just hangin out inside his PVC. I tried feeding him two different types of snails and a hermit. He fiddled with them, swirled them, tapped them, then tossed them out. He did eat krill and loved it.
God, its awesome. Im thinking its a girl because its body isnt as vibrant in color as my last one.

 

[cranberry]

Yes it's a she.