Mantis kill Peppermints?

LadyReefNeck · #1 02/25/2006, 10:31 AM

Quick newbie question .... would a mantis be a suspect killer of 2 healthy peppermint shrimp?

Woke up this morning to find both my peppermint shrimp dead in my tank. Neither looked bitten or injured with marks ... just dead. Only new addition into the tank has been a large piece of LR 3 days ago. Note: I did hear a loud popping sound late that night, but figured it was the Pistol shrimp in my husband's tank.

Thanks in advance.

DJ88© · #2 02/25/2006, 12:28 PM

I think we can answer this one without moving it.

If a mantis were to get after your shrimp there wouldn't be much left at all. Let alone not having any marks.

How long have you had them? What are your tank parameters?

Low Alk can cause probs for inverts. It is kind of strange both went at the same time. That would lead me to suspect something to do with the tank and it's water rather than another inhabitant.

Hutton · #3 02/25/2006, 05:45 PM

i have a mantis and let me tell you one thing, if you had one the most tha would be left are the tips of the legs. and if a mantis went after them, the bodys wouldnt look like they just died, more like if they went through a blender.

spawner · #4 02/26/2006, 10:38 AM

Some snapping shrimp will kill other shrimp. That would explain your poping sound. They might have felt threatened and killed your peppermints. Could be something else, how long did you have the peppermints for.

The steven liu · #5 02/26/2006, 11:40 PM

If you have a mantis I'd say it'll probably the sources of all kills in your tank, vertibrae or invertebrae alike.

DensityMan · #6 02/27/2006, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The steven liu
If you have a mantis I'd say it'll probably the sources of all kills in your tank, vertibrae or invertebrae alike.

Yup. I've lost two dogs, a cat and a roommate I didn't much care for all due to owning a mantis. No need to investigate further...

*NOTE: the above post contains sarcasm and little else. As mentioned above, a mantis would have left very little in the open after smashing their exoskeletons apart and feasting upon them. I have heard that snapping/pistol shrimp are capable of killing passerby's with their thunder-claws, but I've yet to experience it first hand. With both of them dying the same night and no other detials I would investigate water quality first, focusing on ALK and Copper (and of course Ammonia/Nitrites/Nitrates). Good luck.

LadyReefNeck · #7 02/27/2006, 10:49 PM

thanks ... needed that laugh at the end of a long day.