Mantis shrimp laying on back...

Yoda is doing something else weird today... laying on her back... which gave us a chance to look and he is a she. She is kinda curled up, but on her back... not just laid out flat.

She just lays there and flaps her swimmers. Her eyes are still up and she is alert. She chased the food stick for us, but went back to her spot and laid on her back again.

This seems really odd to me, what do you guys think that's about?

 

she/he is molting! Not really a good sign to see...Bob did that on her last molt....they are usually very secretive during molt and will bury themself in their den. However when they do that it (molt in open) usually means they are struggling.

You need to turn off her lights and leave them off for several days. Do not try to look at her, peak in, or feed her! Any extra stress will not be good right now.

Bob survived her molt when she did that the last time....but you have to leave her alone. I turned off all lights in the room (the other tank, my computer etc) When I was working at home and I was in the room she was in (my office) I covered the tank in black aquarium paper (taped on sides) to prevent light coming in and/or her being able to see me

 

I looked back at your picture from when you set up...doesnt seem like there is a lot of den space for her. You might want to place a couple PVC tubes in her tank and then cover them with the rocks, leaving the openings open. This will give her a few selections to den! Bob has about 3 different places and changes regularly.

Dont do it now...she is going to be crabby and needs to not be bothered. But after she is done molting do it.

 

ok thanks, I should just start pming you lol! Should I add some more iodine to the tank? I didn't really expect her to molt this soon, she's only been with us for a week.

 

no...never ever add iodine. I know that there has been articles out there on iodine supplementation and mantis, but what really happens is it causes them to molt too early.

Instead feed it krill and other shellfish..as that will give them all the iodine you need. Plus your waterchanges!

Another good source (who I learned all from) is inwall! he has kept many..in fact he will tell you the adverse affect of dosing iodine. He had a peacock at the LFS that he owned. He was out sick for a couple weeks, and came back and it was dead. Apparently the other owner read that you need to dose iodine and did...caused it to prematuarly molt and stressed it.

 

OMG I added iodine before we put her in.... I am so scared right now, I hope I didn't kill her... what can I do to fix it?

 

see my post on the other thread....it is ok! She will be fine. 1 dose a couple weeks ago isnt going to do anything. She was probably just ready for a molt when you bought her. She seems like a smaller peacock so that means you will see her molt more frequently as she grows.

When she molts leave the shell and that in there...as they will usually eat it and get the nutrients that they need. I have only had to remove her shell 1x after it got to be a brown slime...that was her first molt

but yoda is going to be fine....I think yesterday was the critical part. If she is off her back she will probably be ok...

 

Hang in there. These are really tough critters. Do NOT add anymore Iodine. I doesn't help them molt....it makes them molt. Any Iodine they need is in your salt mix and food. I've kept mantis for a long time. It has been a learning experience but some of my experiences might be useful. http://www.seasl.org/wave/Vol 1 Num 3 Final.pdf