too much light?

[Danyal]

just curious as to what you guys think, i've got a 5g shallow tank(20"Lx10"Wx6"H) that houses Mr. Brooks, my 3" N. wennerae. i just put a 2x65w(1x12,000k and 1x50/50 420nm and 460nm) fixture over it. i like the way the tank looks and would like to keep it but if its going to cause problems(i seem to recall high lighting causing problems for some mantis species) i can go back to my old light(1x23w 6500k)

[justinl]

N. wennerae is an intertidal species and can take any light you throw at it.

[Danyal]

sweet, i thought so but i remembered something about certain species getting problems with, iirc, molting. i got a bit worried because i haven't seen him outside of his PVC cave since i put the new light on but i figured he was molting.

[justinl]

could be molting, could ust be getting used to the new light.

the species you were thinking about were mostly the large Odontodactylids. They are the ones more prone to shell disease, especially large males, when exposed to high light.

[Danyal]

ok, that makes sense. so any ideas about why he isn't a more aggressive hunter? as far as i know, he hasn't touched any of the inverts i've put into the tank.

[justinl]

maybe you're keeping it satiated from feedings of prepared food? When an aquarist feeds enough frozen, the mantis ends up having enough food that it isn't worth it to go hunt. How often do you feed it? Try starving the mantis for a few days. It has to be hungry enough to hunt.

[Danyal]

i've gone a week or more before with no results, its only been in the new tank for a couple weeks though so i don't know if thats going to change. usually i only feed him 2 times a week.

[justinl]

Just keep doing what you're doing then. probably just needs more time to settle in and make his burrow to his liking.

[Danyal]

cool, i may switch his light to a 15w NO t8 though, i just got ahold of a neat desklamp i think would look nice over the tank.