Bent and darkening abdomen

[sgtkeens]

After looking at my mantis, I noticed he was laying on the ground of his enclosure, but after nudging him, I noticed his abdomen was folded at almost a right angle on the last three segments. It's also slightly darker than the rest of his abdomen. I'm afraid that he may have mismolted or somehow damaged himself without my knowledge. He hasn't tried to catch any mealworms yet. Should I give him some honey or try fruit flies? I know he eats mealworms because I gave him some to try before his molt.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Doesn't sound good, you will just have to wait it out. Better to give honey on toothpick and see if he is interested, and then just leave him be. Or drop of water.

 

[sgtkeens]

I realize now that the last Three segments of his abdomen are dead, and I'm going to put in in the freezer unless somebody knows a way that this can be fixed.

 

[CosbyArt]

Follow Rebecca's advice and see if he eats anything. As the insects version of a anus and such is in the last segment though I am not sure if he would be able to continue to get rid of waste such as frass of acid build up. Also the third segment may have spiracles for breathing too, so that might be affected as well.

Give him a little time and see if it looks like he has a chance to make it before deciding on the freezer. I will have to admit sounds too serious just from reading it.

 

[sgtkeens]

Follow Rebecca's advice and see if he eats anything. As the insects version of a anus and such is in the last segment though I am not sure if he would be able to continue to get rid of waste such as frass of acid build up. Also the third segment may have spiracles for breathing too, so that might be affected as well.

Give him a little time and see if it looks like he has a chance to make it before deciding on the freezer. I will have to admit sounds too serious just from reading it.

He's been laying around and the last three segments are almost like jelly at this point, so I've opted to put him down. My best guess it that his abdomen creased during molting. Anyways, I'm hoping to try again next time ooths are in season. I still loved raising my mantis and his siblings while they were around. Thanks for the advice anyways.

 

[CosbyArt]

Sorry to hear you lost your last mantis, but at least you enjoyed your time and plan to have more later. Are you going to try the same species, Tenodera sinensis, are something different next time?

 

[sgtkeens]

Sorry to hear you lost your last mantis, but at least you enjoyed your time and plan to have more later. Are you going to try the same species, Tenodera sinensis, are something different next time?

I definitely want to finish what I started with T. Sinensis, but I've also been looking at ghosts.