Bad Orchid Molt

[padkison]

Female orchid molted into adulthood and forelegs didn't get out. She molted from halfway up her deli cup, which may have been the main problem.

Hindsight, she needed a taller container. A 32 oz cup is too small.

 

[Rick]

I just went and held a 32 oz cup up to my female and that is too small for them. The females are pretty good size mantids.

 

[luketheluke]

did she die?

 

[OGIGA]

Female orchid molted into adulthood and forelegs didn't get out.

Sad. What are you going to do? Freezer? Just going to mate and wait for ooths?

 

[Orin]

I never had trouble with their adult molt in the 32oz. cups but the screening used for the lid makes a difference.

 

[OGIGA]

I have a mantis who also decided to molt on the side of the container. Now it has one very messed up leg. :x

 

[padkison]

I had a metal screened lid and a strip of screen down the side. The screen down the side is for roaches to crawl up to get eaten.

She chose the side screen about 2/3 up to molt.

My other female is moving into a taller container after her next molt with modified bottom screening.

 

[Jenn]

Sorry to hear about your orchid...

 

[sk8erkho]

Just lost my orchid to odd circumstances. Sorry to hear about your orchid. Just had a Chinese molt close to the middle of the tank instead of from the lid as usual and it has a curly hind leg now. They must all be on some odd ball wave length or something for us to have the same set of circumstances at nearly the same time!!!! :shock: And it's the largest of those critter keepers or Wilko in the UK I believe. So it's a bit higher than the 32oz. cup she was in. Go figure. May be too much space??