Meet Yoda, the peacock mantis

I'm kinda worried about Yoda. We got up around 11 am yesterday to find that his tank heater had been unplugged. The water was around 74*. He was acting crazy like he was trying to climb out. I figured that the water temp was the only thing wrong after doing the normal tests. I plugged it back in and his temp is back up to around 79 but he's acting really sluggish today... not playing with his rocks or shells like he normally does.

He did chase a shrimp on a stick but only after hubby put it up under him and messed with him with it.

Do you guys think the temp could have bothered him that much?

 

It might be getting ready for a molt or maybe it was just exploring. I wouldn't worry if the temp had dropped to 64....they're pretty tough.

 

He's doing much better today. We are keeping the light off for a bit just in case he is stressed from the temp dropping. He's out walking around and was hitting his rock for a bit.

We are thinking of messing up his area a bit so he has to work like he would in the wild. What do you guys think of this?

 

Hope he's doing ok... Awesome mantis....

 

I wouldnt mess wiht his rock...honestly IMO even in the wild they are not always rearranging their rock. When they get it like they like it, they will leave it for a bit!

I think messing around wiht his den is only going to do 2 things, 1. stress him out, and 2. make him mad at you! I moved Bobs den one day and I wasnt paying attention, and he gave me a little love tap with his tail to tell me he did not like that much! A newer mantis might just go after you!

 

Yoda is doing something else weird today... laying on her back... which gave us a chance to look and he is a she.

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?

 

Normally this is not seen. It's getting ready for a molt. Normally they would go into their den and close off the front of it with small pieces of rubble so that's why you wouldn't see it. LEAVE THE LIGHTS OFF

 

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.

 

ugh so apparently, you shouldn't add iodine to a mantis tank, contrary to what articles say.

Unfortunately, I added iodine to yoda's tank right before we got her... We have done a water change since then, but I think it's too late.

All I can do now, it hope I haven't killed her. I feel horrible right now!

 

if she dies...which I dont think she will....YOU DID NOT KILL HER! One dose of iodine is not going to do anything.

She was probably ready for a molt when you got her, and just was at the time when you got her and she had not settled down yet. IF she dies (again I dont think it is) it is because she was ready for a molt...not because of the single dose of iodine, and the stress of the new move. Again, one dose a couple weeks ago did not cause it!

How is she doing now? Is she still on her back...you can go in and look real quick to see how she is..then let her be. But I did sneak peaks when Bob had this problem and after a week she was good as new!