Mantis Feeding schedule

I was wondering how often i should feed my mantis, i've had him for about a month now and he was eating every 2-3 days, feeding on nerite snails. I fed him an emerald crab about 2 weeks ago, and it seems he's lost interest in the snails. I bought another emerald to test my hypothesis, and when i tossed it in his burrow, he went to town on it. Now when offered snails again, he shows no interest. Have i spoiled him on a delicacy of crab diet?:Or do ya'll think he'll take intrest in snails again? Have tried hermits, but he punches 'em once and then leaves them alone. (all params are stable and good)
My mantis was sold to me as a Peacock, but he does not have bright colors except on his swimmerets which are bright red, his raptoral appendages are a blueish-white color, and he's about 2.5" long. I can't really see any "leopard spots" on him, which usually identify a peacock. I have no pics, (sorry!)as my camera was stolen. Hoping to get one soon so i can show him off.;D I only tell you this b/c i'm wondering what this species diet in the wild consists of. Hoping maybe he'll eat.
Thanks all!

 

bump. maybe send ir0001 a pm about this. I saw you commented on his mantis thread. Or better yet maybe he can answer this for you. lol

 

I'm no expert but from my research a chunk of krill or silverside every two weeks along with a something alive is pretty ideal.
From your description I'm almost willing to bet you don't have a peacock at all but a O. Havanensis instead.

 

Thanks guys, I just looked up O. Havanesis on Roy's Stomatopod Id List, it's says the distinguishing characteristic is a red spot on the antennal scale, however my guys antennal scales are a yellowish-orange. I need a camera!!! I'll try to get a pic with my phone, if he feels like coming out!

 

I found a pic on Roy's list that looks just like him. I think i have a G. Chiragara. Here's the pic on Roy's site. Out of curiosity what species do you other mantis lover's own?

 

I usually feed once a week with a chunk of krill, silversides etc. You can go less frequently than that if you prefer.

The less often you feed the more often the mantis will hunt and the less often he will molt.

I once left my N. wennerae for around three weeks without feeding him (he ate a few snails and crabs I presume). Most species can go for a week easy without a meal at all.

If you toss in a crab he will have to kill it because crabs could potentially pose a threat to a molting mantis if left living. G. chiragra is also a vicious animal, even for a stomatopod, and it may just like killing crabs.

 

Thanks Stepho!, apparently i was trying to fatten mine up with feeding every 2-3 days! I think i'll feed 1-2 times a week, and see how that goes.

 

cool looking mantis.. i like the colors alot.

 

I used to wait until Fister (my wennerae) went hunting before I fed him that way I knew he was actually hungry, and wasn't just storing the food. G. chiragra's are generally more of home bodies though, if that is what it is.

If you are going just off color and pattern it could be many species.

 

Not to sure how else to id him, roy's list say his distinguishing characteristics for this species are a white meral spot, and size. He's got the white meral spot, and he's only about 2.5 inches atm. He also doesn't seem to be a "homebody", that's to say he comes out the most between 1-3pm and swims around in the open water above his den, but i've never had anther mantis, so i don't know if he really is that shy. He doesn't really greet me or anything, but he like to watch me, my man, and my cat, while peeping from his den. So i'll keep G. chigara in the back of my mind. He's not mottled like the one above, but more of an olive green color. He does have those "starry" spots on his carapice though. Either way he is my Mantis and i LOVE him, he's definitely a trip!