Feeding Odontodactylus Scyllarus

Secondsbest · 03/30/2014, 01:46 PM

I just pick up a new peacock mantis at my lfs. I've researched most of the info already, but I was wondering how much and how often I can expect my 4 inch mantis to eat. I have several live crabs on hand, some more in the freezer, plus I can collect as many as I need at 1/2 inch or so in carapace width. I don't want him (or her) to starve, but I'm worried about having a cache of dead ones fouling up the water.

Gonodactylus · 03/30/2014, 03:05 PM

I would feed it one crab every other day. If the animal acts really hungry by learning to approach the front of the tank whenever he sees you, up the feeding to 5 or 6 crabs a week, but I suspect that 4 will be enough.

Roy

Islandoftiki · 03/30/2014, 03:17 PM

My 5.5" O. scyllarus eats one whole krill soaked in Selcon and Vitachem every day.

Gonodactylus · 03/30/2014, 03:32 PM

A 5.5 inch O.s. is almost double the mass of a 4 inch one.

Roy

Secondsbest · 03/30/2014, 03:51 PM

Thanks for the feedback. He ate one frozen crab while acclimating two days ago. I watched him eat one again yesterday, but today he took two from me and absconded with them to his hole. I'm not sure if he was eating those or not, prompting my question. At 4 a week, I'll need to go collecting soon! Would freshwater mollusks and apple snails be a viable alternative food source? I ask since I live by a lake in Orlando, and saltwater is 45 minutes to an hour and a half east and west of me.

Fartin'Gary · 03/30/2014, 04:22 PM

I wouldn't mix in fresh water critters. That's not their natural diet and you never know what nasties are in there.

You can go to the tropical fish store and get some frozen food for it. They have clams, krill, silversides, ect. Rotate what you feed it and look for a product called selcon. It's a vitamin mix you can soak the food in.

You can also take empty snail shells and pack it full of frozen food then give it to her. Mine would spend a long time smashing the shell to get to the food then decorate with the shell pieces.

Gonodactylus · 03/30/2014, 04:24 PM

An occasional freshwater invertebrates probably won't hurt, but I would not advise making up a major portion of the diet with fresh water molluscs.

Roy

Islandoftiki · 03/30/2014, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonodactylus

A 5.5 inch O.s. is almost double the mass of a 4 inch one.

Roy

Hence why I stated her 5.5" size for a relative comparison. I suspected the OP is clever enough to figure that out. At least I'll give him/her credit for it.

That said, I'll also add that my 4" G. Ternatensis gets fed 1/2 krill daily, but he often doesn't finish it. I've witnessed him give up part of his meal to the hermit crabs, then take it back, then give it up. You can just see the inner turmoil as if he were saying, "Hey, crab, you're eating my dinner! But I'm not hungry any more... But you're eating my dinner! Give me that back. Oh wait, I forgot. Not hungry. You can have it. Hey, you're eating my dinner!"

Through close observation, I've found the amount that both of my mantis will consume completely without any leftovers.

Secondsbest · 03/30/2014, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fartin'Gary

You can also take empty snail shells and pack it full of frozen food then give it to her. Mine would spend a long time smashing the shell to get to the food then decorate with the shell pieces.

That's a great idea. Large snail shells wash up constantly here.
I rather enjoy collecting my own live feed, but I'll keep freshwater as an emergency backup only.
As for the ~100% mass increase for a ~30% length increase, I was a little taken aback until I compared mine and my 12yo son's heights and weights. Pretty similar differential there. That info really sheds some light on the mantis' large tank requirements. I hope he's kind to my hermits when he's moved into the main display.
Thanks again for all the input everyone.

Halo_003 · 04/10/2014, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Secondsbest

That's a great idea. Large snail shells wash up constantly here.
I rather enjoy collecting my own live feed, but I'll keep freshwater as an emergency backup only.
As for the ~100% mass increase for a ~30% length increase, I was a little taken aback until I compared mine and my 12yo son's heights and weights. Pretty similar differential there. That info really sheds some light on the mantis' large tank requirements. I hope he's kind to my hermits when he's moved into the main display.
Thanks again for all the input everyone.

Have you ever heard the story of the mantis shrimp and the hermit crab?
"One day...
That's it, that's the whole story."

On a serious note though, great info in this thread.

Calappidae · 04/10/2014, 10:04 PM

Sometimes stomatopods can be little angels and not hurt a soul in your tank. Depends on their indivigual personallity and if aggression is provoked.

M.r.ducks · 04/11/2014, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calappidae

Sometimes stomatopods can be little angels and not hurt a soul in your tank. Depends on their indivigual personallity and if aggression is provoked.

I've got 2 pajama cardinals and 2 clowns that my peacock lives with. However, the crab community that recently resided in my tank is no more.

Secondsbest · 04/12/2014, 05:05 PM

I'm not sure if its eaten any tank mates, but it has grabbed up all the spare shells in the tank. My hermits will have to go near it at some point. In fact, nearly every bit of rubble has been moved to that side of the tank. So far, live crabs and bits of shrimp are keeping it satisfied. Yesterday, during regular tank maintinance, I blew out its burrow and found a gorgonian I had lost weeks ago. I'm debating on gluing a zoa colony above this burrow entrance for more of a hobbit hole look.

03/30/2014, 01:46 PM	#1
Secondsbest Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 110	Feeding Odontodactylus Scyllarus I just pick up a new peacock mantis at my lfs. I've researched most of the info already, but I was wondering how much and how often I can expect my 4 inch mantis to eat. I have several live crabs on hand, some more in the freezer, plus I can collect as many as I need at 1/2 inch or so in carapace width. I don't want him (or her) to starve, but I'm worried about having a cache of dead ones fouling up the water.

04/10/2014, 10:04 PM	#11
Calappidae Harlequin Shrimp Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Somewhere Posts: 3,814	Sometimes stomatopods can be little angels and not hurt a soul in your tank. Depends on their indivigual personallity and if aggression is provoked. __________________ Joe

03/30/2014, 03:05 PM	#2
Gonodactylus Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Berkeley, CA, USA Posts: 5,024	I would feed it one crab every other day. If the animal acts really hungry by learning to approach the front of the tank whenever he sees you, up the feeding to 5 or 6 crabs a week, but I suspect that 4 will be enough. Roy

03/30/2014, 03:17 PM	#3
Islandoftiki Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,037	My 5.5" O. scyllarus eats one whole krill soaked in Selcon and Vitachem every day.

03/30/2014, 03:32 PM	#4
Gonodactylus Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Berkeley, CA, USA Posts: 5,024	A 5.5 inch O.s. is almost double the mass of a 4 inch one. Roy

03/30/2014, 03:51 PM	#5
Secondsbest Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 110	Thanks for the feedback. He ate one frozen crab while acclimating two days ago. I watched him eat one again yesterday, but today he took two from me and absconded with them to his hole. I'm not sure if he was eating those or not, prompting my question. At 4 a week, I'll need to go collecting soon! Would freshwater mollusks and apple snails be a viable alternative food source? I ask since I live by a lake in Orlando, and saltwater is 45 minutes to an hour and a half east and west of me.

03/30/2014, 04:22 PM	#6
Fartin'Gary Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Napoli, Italy Posts: 1,023	I wouldn't mix in fresh water critters. That's not their natural diet and you never know what nasties are in there. You can go to the tropical fish store and get some frozen food for it. They have clams, krill, silversides, ect. Rotate what you feed it and look for a product called selcon. It's a vitamin mix you can soak the food in. You can also take empty snail shells and pack it full of frozen food then give it to her. Mine would spend a long time smashing the shell to get to the food then decorate with the shell pieces.

03/30/2014, 04:24 PM	#7
Gonodactylus Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Berkeley, CA, USA Posts: 5,024	An occasional freshwater invertebrates probably won't hurt, but I would not advise making up a major portion of the diet with fresh water molluscs. Roy

04/12/2014, 05:05 PM	#13
Secondsbest Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 110	I'm not sure if its eaten any tank mates, but it has grabbed up all the spare shells in the tank. My hermits will have to go near it at some point. In fact, nearly every bit of rubble has been moved to that side of the tank. So far, live crabs and bits of shrimp are keeping it satisfied. Yesterday, during regular tank maintinance, I blew out its burrow and found a gorgonian I had lost weeks ago. I'm debating on gluing a zoa colony above this burrow entrance for more of a hobbit hole look.