A mantis that has not molted in 2 weeks...

[sbugir]

Hi,

My chinese mantis l6, hasn't molted in two weeks, and I've noticed shes become very frail. Is this perhaps becuase she can't find a molting perch? Her whole tank is mesh -.-, or is it perhaps she is simply not ready yet? I fed her well and kept the temperature around 78 degrees. I'm putting her on my house plant for now and see if she'll do anything, but my main question is, will a mantis hold back molting if there is nothing to molt on?

Thanks

 

[sbugir]

poo, just realized this is in the wrong thread.

 

[Katnapper]

:huh:

A mantis can postphone to a limited extent molting when there is no appropriate molting site it likes. But eventually it will molt regardless. But it sounds as if she's just not ready.... seems you've got the bases covered with appropriate sites.

 

[Ntsees]

Hi,My chinese mantis l6, hasn't molted in two weeks, and I've noticed shes become very frail. Is this perhaps becuase she can't find a molting perch? Her whole tank is mesh -.-, or is it perhaps she is simply not ready yet? I fed her well and kept the temperature around 78 degrees. I'm putting her on my house plant for now and see if she'll do anything, but my main question is, will a mantis hold back molting if there is nothing to molt on?

Thanks

I haven't seen it though (a mantid holding back molting). Usually, if it's time to molt, it will try to molt.

 

[sbugir]

Thanks for the answers. Does 2 weeks (going on 3 soon) seem like a long time for a mantis to not molt? Usually I've had it every week she molts. I guess we'll just wait and see.

 

[Ntsees]

Thanks for the answers. Does 2 weeks (going on 3 soon) seem like a long time for a mantis to not molt? Usually I've had it every week she molts. I guess we'll just wait and see.

That does seem kind of long. Anyways, I forgot to mention that when I sometimes try to postpone mines from molting, I usually put them in somewhere cool. That's the only way I can make my mantids postpone their molting. However, I can't postpone them from molting when their wings buds are already bulging. I only do that because the ones that are usually ahead are the males and I don't want them to molt too early before the females are close to the final molt. Therefore, if I were to use this experience to answer your question, a possibility to your mantid not molting could be the environment in which your mantid is in. If it's not, then it's just your mantid. Suggestion: raise the temperature in which your mantid is kept (warmth and light = faster development).

 

[Rick]

Thanks for the answers. Does 2 weeks (going on 3 soon) seem like a long time for a mantis to not molt? Usually I've had it every week she molts. I guess we'll just wait and see.

No. I dont' think I have ever had mantids molt every week.

 

[AmandaLynn]

The time between moltings often gets noticeably longer during their last few instars. If it's an L6, then two or three weeks seems about right.

 

[Katnapper]

I think I know your concern now. The younger they are, the less time between molts. As they age, the time between molts gets progressively longer each time. This is normal and nothing to worry about. You just have to be patient.

 

[sbugir]

Okay what a relief. Except she is incredibly frail and feeble like a geriatric , and I'm concerned with her behavior. I have noticed her buds are much larger, almost swollen. I'm almost assured that she'll be molting tonight... Arghh, it's just so frightening, especially since she was my first mantis. I don't want her to go . Hope for the best i guess. Thanks for the info.

 

[Katnapper]

Don't forget to mist daily, or even twice a day if you think they're about to molt. But of course, don't mist them while they're molting.

 

[sbugir]

Yeah, I've been misting her cage 2x a day, and when she's on the plant I give her a good sprayin'.

 

[Rick]

Like most new people to this hobby you worry too much! Let her be and do not disturb.

 

[sbugir]

Yeah, I worry about everything, it's my mother's side

 

[jameslongo]

The frailty is probably indicative that she will moult. Don't want to turn this into a contest but all I'm going to say is that I had a L4 mantid that did not moult for 60 days. Amazing what winter can do to a bug

 

[kamakiri]

3+ weeks is normal for a chinese female subadult. Perfectly normal. Don't be surprised if it gets to 4 weeks.