Howdy all,
I have a 20g long FOWLR tank with the only inhabitant being a female peacock mantis shrimp ~4.0-4.5in. The other fauna in there are only red leg hermit crabs, as they are supposed to be her food. I’ve had other mantises in the past, both peacock and orange spot, so I’ve had some experience in cultivating a good diet. I primarily rely on clams on the half shell 4-5 times a week, and introduce 3 live red leg hermits or emerald crabs every 2-3 weeks in place of clams. However, this particular female (who I’ve had for over a month now) appears to have no punchers/severely underdeveloped punchers. I’ll attach a photo. I know they are supposed to grow back with several molts, and she appears to know HOW to use them (I’ve seen her wind up for a punch several times), but I worry that she will not redevelop them if they are not in use. She tends to eat her clams “like soup”, using the shell as a bowl as she eats the meat out, not utilizing her dactyls at all. Is there anything additional I can do to ascertain the regrowth of her punchers? Will the lack of them shorten her life span? Thank you!!
I have a 20g long FOWLR tank with the only inhabitant being a female peacock mantis shrimp ~4.0-4.5in. The other fauna in there are only red leg hermit crabs, as they are supposed to be her food. I’ve had other mantises in the past, both peacock and orange spot, so I’ve had some experience in cultivating a good diet. I primarily rely on clams on the half shell 4-5 times a week, and introduce 3 live red leg hermits or emerald crabs every 2-3 weeks in place of clams. However, this particular female (who I’ve had for over a month now) appears to have no punchers/severely underdeveloped punchers. I’ll attach a photo. I know they are supposed to grow back with several molts, and she appears to know HOW to use them (I’ve seen her wind up for a punch several times), but I worry that she will not redevelop them if they are not in use. She tends to eat her clams “like soup”, using the shell as a bowl as she eats the meat out, not utilizing her dactyls at all. Is there anything additional I can do to ascertain the regrowth of her punchers? Will the lack of them shorten her life span? Thank you!!