Mantis Shrimp Behaviour

[Moogled]

This guy is so cool. I don't think he's even begun to come out yet.

I didn't bother acclimating him because I made sure my SG was the same as Rudy's several hours before I went to pick him up.

During the ride home, he was peeking at me from the bucket on the ground. I created a little alcove for him using 2 pieces of LR and some rubble (also provided by rudy!). Now he's just hanging out in his PVC pipe and peeks under the rock to check things out if I get too close.

[Moogled]

Hmm...the ciliata doesn't seem to be eating the krill that I put onto a stick to feed him. I can have the krill directly in front of him and he just ignores it.

What else should I try feeding a spearer? Chromis?

[rudy]

Admitedly I have not fed him on a stick for a while so that could be a bit of the issue, but also Krill. He has never really ate that. Try piece of shrimp.

He also would kill (literally) for ghost shrimp

[Psyire]

I've never kept a spearer but my smashers have always ate the following...

Krill, Scallops, Mysis, Silversides, Clams (from Superstore), Hitchhiker Crabs

It should eat something off that list. I would start with Silversides. (no need to feed Chromis)

[justinl]

i used to stick feed my smasher but after a while i didnt bother. just drop the food nearish the burrow and he'll find it.

+1 on the silversides or grocery bought shrimp. just be sure the shrimp is uncooked and unseasoned. it is a good idea to rinse the shrimp off very well after thawing. i would try feeding a few different frozens before going to live just because im cheap.

[Moogled]

Thanks guys, I'll try mussels or something. Rudy said that this ciliata loves them.

The reason I was hesitant about other frozen foods is because I only have krill and frozen brine shrimp. If the ciliata doesn't eat the frozen brine shrimp, then I'd end up with a tank polluted with the stuff and have to do a WC.

Will try the silversides suggestions. Thanks.

Am I safe in assuming that spearers eat nothing with shells like crabs and snails since they can't break them open?

PS: Pics soming soon!

[justinl]

yeah mantids wont bother with food that is too small like brine shimp. keep an eye on how much of the mussel the mantis eats as bivalves can foul a tank faster than most other food.

spearers wont generally bother hermits or snails unless they can pull the thing out of the shell (which is rare). they can actually hunt down crabs quite well by spearing the crabs belly.