Snow_Phoenix Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Freya sealed off all her cavities last night with some rubble and loose coral pieces. I peeked today at the tank and none of the exits seemed to be tampered with, so I'm assuming she's still in her burrow. Should I be concerned that she's not coming out? She did steal a small piece of raw chopped shrimp on a wooden stick that I gave her yesterday, and hid it in her cave, but now I'm a little worried that the food will rot in there and pollute the water. Is it possible that she is molting now? Should I continue with my weekly WC, or should I hold it off until she's done molting? Gosh, I already miss her. She's usually one of my first precious babies to greet me in the morning besides my therapy/support dog. I hope she's ok. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 You can continue to do water changes, won't make a difference. Keep those up for sure, it's how their shells get calcium and magnesium for strength. No, don't be concerned. They cover up because they're in a very vulnerable position when molting as their new and softer maybe shell hasn't hardened yet so it's a protection thing. She'll open the door when she's ready and she still may act more leary until she's comfortable. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 You can continue to do water changes, won't make a difference. Keep those up for sure, it's how their shells get calcium and magnesium for strength. No, don't be concerned. They cover up because they're in a very vulnerable position when molting as their new and softer maybe shell hasn't hardened yet so it's a protection thing. She'll open the door when she's ready and she still may act more leary until she's comfortable. Alright - I'll proceed with my weekly WC tomorrow. I was just gluing down some more zoas on the zoa island today and still peeking at her burrow in hopes of seeing her peep out, but no luck so far. Gilbert on the other hand seems as charming as ever, and has slowly began to claim the cave next to Freya's. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 5, 2015 Author Share Posted August 5, 2015 Guess who survived her first molt and decided to say hello today? (She's still very shy - not that I blame her!) Also, I noticed that Freya has changed colors! I only had a very quick flash of her dorsal abdomen before she zoomed back into her tunnel, but it appears that now she's a sort of teal blue/gray with a lighter green overlay - no longer the olive green with red bands that she previously fashioned. And her antennules are now a very dull orange/yellow, with her eyes being dark grey and her antennal scale being a mix of light blue + bright pink. I can't wait for her to be more interactive in the upcoming days so that I can get a few more good shots of her. As for the zoas, some of them have doubled in size pretty quick, which I'm not sure if it is normal or not. And here's a topshot view of the tank taken on 1/8/2015. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Awesome. Glad it worked out. I know it's hard to be patient. And while you're waiting it really does seem forever. She may remain more extra shy until her shell hardens and she feels more secure. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Awesome. Glad it worked out. I know it's hard to be patient. And while you're waiting it really does seem forever. She may remain more extra shy until her shell hardens and she feels more secure. Yep! She plugged up all her burrows again, so I think it'll be a few days until I see her up and about once more. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Mine plugs up for night time daily and reopens in the morning. I measured Gertie. 1.75" so she's still small. But considering she was .5" she has grown tremendously. She was so tiny she didn't have to plug up anything, she was hiding in the rocks back then in the tunnels and pores. Link to comment
kimberbee Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Glad she made it through her molt. So cute they close their "doors" at night! Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 6, 2015 Author Share Posted August 6, 2015 Mine plugs up for night time daily and reopens in the morning. I measured Gertie. 1.75" so she's still small. But considering she was .5" she has grown tremendously. She was so tiny she didn't have to plug up anything, she was hiding in the rocks back then in the tunnels and pores. Oh yes - I recall how small Gertie was! She still has some ways left to grow right? Glad she made it through her molt. So cute they close their "doors" at night! I'm glad as well. And yes, I think the closing 'doors' is their best feature yet. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 It's been 5 days since I last saw/heard Freya around the tank. None of the plugs in her burrows have been moved, and there are absolutely zero clicking sounds ever. Is she alive? Or could she have died in her burrow? I'm very worried. It's the lack of sounds that worries me - even one tiny 'click' to show 'I'm okay' is good enough for me. I miss seeing her walk about my tank, thwack everything in her path and even shoot daggers at Gilbert the damsel. In the meantime, I'll be doing a routine WC tomorrow and scrub down the glass a little. I really hope she shows up. Link to comment
amphipod Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Hopefully she ain't dead, if it starts stinking you'll know. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 Hopefully she ain't dead, if it starts stinking you'll know. So far nothing is stinking and all levels are still steady. Definitely a worrisome mystery. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Maybe she made herself a home under the rocks like mine has. She has several homes in the tank. Do you have a lid? Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Maybe she made herself a home under the rocks like mine has. She has several homes in the tank. Do you have a lid? I did see a large dugout space next to the rock she inhabits, but there's no visible burrows around the dugout area. She could be living in the sand as you suggested, but did you ever hear Gertie 'clicking' during molting? It's the lack of sound that bothers me the most. Oh, and yes, I have a lid. Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Never have heard anything while she's molting. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Never have heard anything while she's molting. Okay, I'll wait then and remain hopeful. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 15, 2015 Author Share Posted August 15, 2015 Well, somebody has finally gone through their first successful molt in the tank and become less antisocial. And this is the first time I ever caught her staring right ahead on film. Also, her colors have now solidified. Looks like the 'grey/teal' coloring I saw about a week back might have been part of her molting exoskeleton or endoskeleton which hadn't strengthened yet. She's still a dark olive green with red bands, but is thicker and slightly longer than before. In the meantime, I decided to have some fun with her and pop some dice in her tank: A day later, she decides that most of the dice needs to be secretly buried because she's afraid I might steal them back. My Mushrooms seem to be growing rather well! And my giant Hairy shroom bopped out a tiny baby. Current FTS of the tank - sorry about the ruffled zoas - I had to do a FW dip when I noticed that some of them had nudis on them. And here is finally my first video of Freya peeking out of her burrow: Link to comment
FlowerMama Posted August 15, 2015 Share Posted August 15, 2015 Hurray! A video! I love mantis videos. It's hard to get them. Gertie hides when I put the camera closer. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 16, 2015 Author Share Posted August 16, 2015 Hurray! A video! I love mantis videos. It's hard to get them. Gertie hides when I put the camera closer. Lol, Freya was hiding too! But then she grew curious and popped out a little, so I couldn't resist taking a small vid. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 16, 2015 Author Share Posted August 16, 2015 Somebody has been busy digging herself a new cave exit underground. And I guess baby pink is now her favorite color. Lastly, here she is, having a nice conversation with Gilbert early in the morning. Link to comment
amphipod Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Everything looks good. Like the video also. Link to comment
Snow_Phoenix Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Part 1 of my Mantis Killing a Live Shrimp. If you listen closely, you can hear the 'click' of her smashers hitting the shrimp. The shrimp is later left stunned on the red piece of LR. Part 2 of my Mantis killing a live shrimp. Finally, one more smash and dinner is served. Viewer discretion is advised. Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Part 1 of my Mantis Killing a Live Shrimp. If you listen closely, you can hear the 'click' of her smashers hitting the shrimp. The shrimp is later left stunned on the red piece of LR. Part 2 of my Mantis killing a live shrimp. Finally, one more smash and dinner is served. Viewer discretion is advised. SWEET videos! I've heard about the crash noises before but never heard them myself. That's awesome Link to comment
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