Bad molting - Mantis seems crippled

[Marianna]

I'm new at this, but willing to do what it takes. Mantis look like it fell during 4th molt and antenna, legs, front legs all stuck. Could not move. I tried to separate legs and antennas, and now he moves but looks like front legs can't grab, and back legs are not working right - part of legs seem to be missing. So.... now he can't eat live bugs. What can I do? Is there hope in the next molt if he makes it? What can I feed him? I tried moist dog food which he took last night, but didn't seem too eager this morning. I am lost! Could someone suggest something asap? Thanks so much!

 

[Ntsees]

Other forum members have asked this same question. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about it now. If it cannot hang by itself, it won't make it to the next instar stage. You can hand feed it and it will probably survive, but once it's time to molt again, that's where it'll be over. Best to not waste your time on it and start with another mantid.

 

[Marianna]

Other forum members have asked this same question. Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do about it now. If it cannot hang by itself, it won't make it to the next instar stage. You can hand feed it and it will probably survive, but once it's time to molt again, that's where it'll be over. Best to not waste your time on it and start with another mantid.

Thank you so much for getting back to me. First question, what SHOULD I have done in this situation? And the harder question, what is the best way to not make this little guy suffer anymore?

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Sounds like you might want to check your humidity if he got stuck in his skin.

After the fact there isn't much you can do other than trying to help the mantis out, which is what you did. If the skins still soft during when you catch them having problems, sometimes a little moisture via spray bottle can help coax it off but I have a feeling by your description it had already dried too much for that to have helped.

Without seeing the mantis I can't say what the odds are of a successful next molt. Can he hang on the walls of his enclosure at all? As for hand feeding, crickets work well. You will want to rip the cricket slightly open so you get some of the juices and place those near the mantises mandibles. Most will readily eat once they get a bit of the taste.

If he will eat easily for you I might give him a couple days to see if there are any improvements in his mobility as he adjusts to his body. Personally, even if it looked like there was little chance of a proper shedding, if I had a mantis that would easily hand feed and otherwise seemed content I would not consider it a waste of my time to hand feed them. A few more weeks is still a few more weeks.

If you decide however you do want to euthanize him, the preferred method in the hobby seems to be to stick them in the freezer.

 

[Marianna]

Sounds like you might want to check your humidity if he got stuck in his skin.

After the fact there isn't much you can do other than trying to help the mantis out, which is what you did. If the skins still soft during when you catch them having problems, sometimes a little moisture via spray bottle can help coax it off but I have a feeling by your description it had already dried too much for that to have helped.

Without seeing the mantis I can't say what the odds are of a successful next molt. Can he hang on the walls of his enclosure at all? As for hand feeding, crickets work well. You will want to rip the cricket slightly open so you get some of the juices and place those near the mantises mandibles. Most will readily eat once they get a bit of the taste.

If he will eat easily for you I might give him a couple days to see if there are any improvements in his mobility as he adjusts to his body. Personally, even if it looked like there was little chance of a proper shedding, if I had a mantis that would easily hand feed and otherwise seemed content I would not consider it a waste of my time to hand feed them. A few more weeks is still a few more weeks.

If you decide however you do want to euthanize him, the preferred method in the hobby seems to be to stick them in the freezer.

He can't walk, he can't hang. And to think this might be my fault (low humidity) makes me sick to my stomach. I really appreciate your response.

 

[dgerndt]

He can't walk, he can't hang. And to think this might be my fault (low humidity) makes me sick to my stomach. I really appreciate your response.

It's all right; we've all had this experience at least once. This is the reason mantids have so many babies, and why we purchase more than one nymph.

I have a mantis that had fallen during a molt and one of his back legs popped off, and his other was crippled. He could barely catch food or hang and climb. So every day I poked a fruit fly onto the end of a needle and hand fed him. He was so hard to hand feed because he was so timid, but my love for him kept me going. It took about a month, but he molted perfectly and got his whole leg grew back (it was smaller, but still functional). So don't give up hope on every mantis that has a mismolt. They're tough bugs.

But if he is past your help, the freezer is the most humane method (in my opinion). That's how most mantids pass away in the wild. They go with the first real frost.

 

[Rick]

In that case I normally put the mantis in the freezer for about an hour to put it down. There is nothing you can do to fix it and if the mantis can't molt again it will not survive.

 

[Marianna]

It's all right; we've all had this experience at least once. This is the reason mantids have so many babies, and why we purchase more than one nymph.

I have a mantis that had fallen during a molt and one of his back legs popped off, and his other was crippled. He could barely catch food or hang and climb. So every day I poked a fruit fly onto the end of a needle and hand fed him. He was so hard to hand feed because he was so timid, but my love for him kept me going. It took about a month, but he molted perfectly and got his whole leg grew back (it was smaller, but still functional). So don't give up hope on every mantis that has a mismolt. They're tough bugs.

But if he is past your help, the freezer is the most humane method (in my opinion). That's how most mantids pass away in the wild. They go with the first real frost.

Thanks so much for your response. That a great suggestion re: the fruit flies. At least I know he won't be hungry. Your note gave me hope, but I don't think he can "hang" at all.... I know what I have to do, but I want to prolong it as long as possible. Thanks again!

 

[Marianna]

Sounds like you might want to check your humidity if he got stuck in his skin.

After the fact there isn't much you can do other than trying to help the mantis out, which is what you did. If the skins still soft during when you catch them having problems, sometimes a little moisture via spray bottle can help coax it off but I have a feeling by your description it had already dried too much for that to have helped.

Without seeing the mantis I can't say what the odds are of a successful next molt. Can he hang on the walls of his enclosure at all? As for hand feeding, crickets work well. You will want to rip the cricket slightly open so you get some of the juices and place those near the mantises mandibles. Most will readily eat once they get a bit of the taste.

If he will eat easily for you I might give him a couple days to see if there are any improvements in his mobility as he adjusts to his body. Personally, even if it looked like there was little chance of a proper shedding, if I had a mantis that would easily hand feed and otherwise seemed content I would not consider it a waste of my time to hand feed them. A few more weeks is still a few more weeks.

If you decide however you do want to euthanize him, the preferred method in the hobby seems to be to stick them in the freezer.

Thanks for your response.... what a great community of people who really care for this beautiful creatures! And thanks for your insight, it was very useful.

 

[dgerndt]

You're welcome. I love my little mantids. They're my babies. I do have a few that need a good new home, though. If you're interested, you can have them for free. Just pay about $10 shipping.

 

[Marianna]

You're welcome. I love my little mantids. They're my babies. I do have a few that need a good new home, though. If you're interested, you can have them for free. Just pay about $10 shipping.

Deby, Just wanted to let you know my little mantid is still thriving, and slightly improving. I have been feeding him fruit flies anyway I can catch them (not sure how many he should eat in a day, but this morning he ate 3). He still has trouble walking but every once in a while I'll catch him standing up on a little screen in his container. He is not shy about eating from a pinhead or tweezers which helps. I'm taking this day by day. I just have to tell you how much it meant to me that you would even offer me one of your "babies"!!!! What a compliment! Right now, whenever I am not working, doing church activities or sleeping, I am keeping an eye on my little guy. My husband even commented that he's been replaced by a bug! I really thank you for how encouraging your note was that you would trust me with one of yours!!!! Thanks so much!

 

[dgerndt]

It's no problem at all! We're all a big bug-loving family here, and we gotta take care of each other. I'm glad to hear your little guy is doing well. Humidity in my house is often very low, so it's hard for me to keep my mantids at the proper level. As a result, I've had some mismolts. But with some good old fashioned TLC, they made it through.

Here are a few pictures of my little crippled guys (and girl):

This is Kyle. He made it to another molt, then got eaten by a kitty.

This is Romanesco. He's molted perfectly twice after this and he looks like a perfect little guy.

And this is Manny, my first mantis. She lost a foot and part of her back leg and got black spots on her eyes. She lived to lay an ooth for me.

 

[Marianna]

It's no problem at all! We're all a big bug-loving family here, and we gotta take care of each other. I'm glad to hear your little guy is doing well. Humidity in my house is often very low, so it's hard for me to keep my mantids at the proper level. As a result, I've had some mismolts. But with some good old fashioned TLC, they made it through.

Here are a few pictures of my little crippled guys (and girl):

This is Kyle. He made it to another molt, then got eaten by a kitty.

This is Romanesco. He's molted perfectly twice after this and he looks like a perfect little guy.

And this is Manny, my first mantis. She lost a foot and part of her back leg and got black spots on her eyes. She lived to lay an ooth for me.

First of all... I loved your pictures - great camera & amazing little models! Second of all, I'm still learning my way around this forum, so if I don't reply, it's only cause I got lost. And third, let me ask your opinion - do you think we can help them molt? You've been such a help, thanks!

 

[Marianna]

It's no problem at all! We're all a big bug-loving family here, and we gotta take care of each other. I'm glad to hear your little guy is doing well. Humidity in my house is often very low, so it's hard for me to keep my mantids at the proper level. As a result, I've had some mismolts. But with some good old fashioned TLC, they made it through.

Here are a few pictures of my little crippled guys (and girl):

This is Kyle. He made it to another molt, then got eaten by a kitty.

This is Romanesco. He's molted perfectly twice after this and he looks like a perfect little guy.

And this is Manny, my first mantis. She lost a foot and part of her back leg and got black spots on her eyes. She lived to lay an ooth for me.

First of all... I loved your pictures - great camera & amazing little models! Second of all, I'm still learning my way around this forum, so if I don't reply, it's only cause I got lost. And third, let me ask your opinion - do you think we can help them molt? You've been such a help, thanks!

 

[dgerndt]

Thank you! It took a lot of pictures to get a few good ones.

I've had to help a few of my mantids because they've fallen or gotten stuck. What I usually do is get some tweezers and hold onto a back leg until they finish molting. Sometimes it's possible to gently remove the skin, but first you should spray a light mist of warm water on the mantis. Some people will even get a tiny bit of hot glue and stick a leg to it so they don't have to hold them. It sometimes sacrifices a foot or bends a leg, but at least your mantis is alive.

Might I suggest taking a picture of your mantis and uploading it so we can see? We could give better advice if we know exactly what condition your mantis is in.

 

[Marianna]

Thank you! It took a lot of pictures to get a few good ones.

I've had to help a few of my mantids because they've fallen or gotten stuck. What I usually do is get some tweezers and hold onto a back leg until they finish molting. Sometimes it's possible to gently remove the skin, but first you should spray a light mist of warm water on the mantis. Some people will even get a tiny bit of hot glue and stick a leg to it so they don't have to hold them. It sometimes sacrifices a foot or bends a leg, but at least your mantis is alive.

Might I suggest taking a picture of your mantis and uploading it so we can see? We could give better advice if we know exactly what condition your mantis is in.

I want to keep on top of this and have been reading looking for the "warning" signs of an upcoming molt. I'm going to keep your suggestions right by his container.... cause I'll get nervous as if I'm having a baby or something. I tried to take a picture, and it seems to have trouble focusing on something so little! Maybe I need to borrow a camera! I just asked someone at work.... and i think they helped me.... so we'll see!

 

[Marianna]

Here are some picts that I took of my little Hans Solo (since he was the only one who survived!). 3 of his backlegs don't work properly and he can not grasp.... but I still have hope. He's dining on a cricket (I truly think they open their mouths & scream when they see me coming with that knife!. UGH. HOpefully the picture come out.

OK.. PICTURE DID NOT MAKE IT. Hmmm.... i'm about as clueless with this as I was a few weeks ago about Mantids.

 

[dgerndt]

Try to look for a "macro" or "flower" setting on your camera. Also, do NOT use the zoom. Usually it just makes the picture blur. Just try to have a lot of light and focus your mantis into the very center of the picture. I had to fiddle around with my camera for a long time before I got the hang of it.

 

[Marianna]

Try to look for a "macro" or "flower" setting on your camera. Also, do NOT use the zoom. Usually it just makes the picture blur. Just try to have a lot of light and focus your mantis into the very center of the picture. I had to fiddle around with my camera for a long time before I got the hang of it.

The "flower" setting worked.... at least on my end. I have the pictures on My Pictures folder, and have tried about 100x (ok, maybe not 100x) to try to send them, but the system keeps saying no file. I give up. Today I fed him a mealworm.... it wiggled so much, it scared the mantid! My husband cut it in half, and while he was happily eating one end, the other end was crawling around. This has to be where sci-fi was created from!!!