Slightly strange Peacock Behavior

lifemalfunction · #1 01/03/2008, 11:07 PM

My Peacock, Chucky, seems to be striking the rocks inside his burrow repeatedly.

He has caused quite a bit of damage to one of his raps, it's chipped a large "chunk" of it off. Some of the calcium deposit has chipped off, and part of the side of the rapt, too. I'm afraid he might be stressed out, or something may be causing this strange behavior.

Can anyone please calm my worries and/or shed some light on this situation? Thank you.

DanInSD · #2 01/04/2008, 02:12 AM

Mantis often get more aggressive just before a molt. They are telling everything nearby to "get away". It could be that...

Dan

lifemalfunction · #3 01/04/2008, 08:06 AM

He's really taken most of one of his rapts completely off in small chunks.

Regardless, the lights are turned off for a while... I'll see if that helps him relax a bit.

Gonodactylus · #4 01/04/2008, 10:55 AM

I don't know of any evidence that O. scyllarus signal aggression by striking the substrate. I have reported this in Neogonodactylus. More likely the animal is trying to enlarge and/or modify the burrow prior to a molt.

ROy

lifemalfunction · #5 01/04/2008, 11:27 AM

Thank you Dr. Roy.

It would be his right rapt... Most of the calcium deposit is chipped off, as well as part of the "arm" area there.

If he molts soon, do you think there will be damage?

My lights are off and I'm avoiding that entire area of the room for now.

lifemalfunction · #6 01/04/2008, 11:29 AM

Oh, I put in about 10 red banded small turbos in there on Tuesday... most of them are gone already.

So he's still eating/striking... even with the damage.

lifemalfunction · #7 01/04/2008, 12:34 PM

here's a picture that kind of describes what I'm talking about. I'd take a picture when I'm home from work, but I don't want to disturb or stress him out. The area roughly outlined in black is chipped off quite a bit... but on the other side. Just a rough illustration :P

justinl · #8 01/05/2008, 03:33 AM

even if there is a problem, there isnt much that you can do about it. just let it ride out. sounds like it feels like molting soon, so you'll find out then. just keep feeding and if you're worried, soak all the frozen food with selcon.

KhawMengLee · #9 01/05/2008, 10:27 PM

My Peacock had did the same thing. It was chipping away at the live rock it's burrow was made of and it's raps were worn and chipped down almost to nothing. It just moulted so everything is back to normal.