Blind mantis

[Sticky]

My blind mantis Fred is having a hard time finding his mate. He is a Madagaskan Marbled and 3 molts before adulthood his eyes were damaged.

He came out of his skin halfway down the container and his face and eyes were pressed against the floor of it. His eyes had black pits and I was worried he would not be able to see at all.

Now he just looks like he has cateracts. He can see around the edges but it has left him fearful and nervous. I read some of the wonderful posts about how to deal with males but I see none about blind or handi-capped mates. Has anyone ever encountered anything like this and if you did, how did you deal with it.

Thanks, Robin and Fred!

 

[Mime454]

Did you try putting him on top of the female yourself?

 

[lancaster1313]

You can just put him on her back, assuming that both mantids are ready to mate. How long have both genders been adults?

Mime454 has already posted that. I type too slow. lol

 

[Rick]

I would try that as well. Sight is not the only sense employed when it comes to mating.

 

[Sticky]

I tried yesterday. I put him on her but he is so nervous of her, he runs away.That freaks her out and then she scrammbles away!

I will keep it up. I give him honey and bee pollen as a treat and that relaxes him.

 

[Mime454]

Maybe he isn't ready, how old is he since the last molt? Or perhaps she be not calling?

 

[hibiscusmile]

Also, feed him with tweezers under his mouth so he taste it and knows its food, this is if he seems not to find it himself.