So I've been wonder if it's possible to disinfect mantis wounds. Like if you have to amputate a limb, is there anything that can be applied to prevent infection?
Doesn't alcohol kill insects though?methyl paraben is an additive to a lot of artificial insect diets as an anti-microbial
at a low enough concentration, it is harmful to microbes but not the insect
you may try that, particularly if it's dissolved in an alcohol-based gel
that dependsDoesn't alcohol kill insects though?
maybe if the animal is in a tiny little sealed containerWouldn't the fumes get into the spiracles though? I brought that up to a professor and that's what he's worried about.
So, the professor is just overreacting?maybe if the animal is in a tiny little sealed container
Probably. What's he a professor of? His primary experience with insects is stepping on them.So, the professor is just overreacting?
He’s literally our chairman in the Biology Department. He specializes in wasps.Probably. What's he a professor of? His primary experience with insects is stepping on them.
Have you ever seen a wound get infected? I'd be inclined to just let the mantis rely on it's own natural immunity, and not stress it out with handling. If the infection gets out of control, I would write that mantis off as one of your losses. We do our best to keep critters healthy, but like the rectal prolapse in another thread, some circumstances are beyond our control.He’s literally our chairman in the Biology Department. He specializes in wasps.
No, I have not personally had a mantis with an infected wound. The few that have lost limbs have done just fine.Have you ever seen a wound get infected? I'd be inclined to just let the mantis rely on it's own natural immunity, and not stress it out with handling. If the infection gets out of control, I would write that mantis off as one of your losses. We do our best to keep critters healthy, but like the rectal prolapse in another thread, some circumstances are beyond our control.
sadly, insects don't have the body plan to support advanced measures of medical care like many other pets.No, I have not personally had a mantis with an infected wound. The few that have lost limbs have done just fine.
It's question I asked mostly out of curiosity, but isn't it our responsibility as keepers to search for these kinds of answers? I just want to be able to actually do something if anything like that happens you know. Despite mantises being delicate, the world feels way too big for there to not be an answer.
However, it does seem at the current moment most of what we can do is prevention. Maybe discussing cleaning regiments more, how to properly do them, reducing possible cross contamination between mantises with food items/enclosures, emphasizing enclosure sizes to prevent injuries, etc. all might help.
I've been meaning to ask you about that, because you talk about it in one of your videos. Let's say that I've just soaked my mantis enclosure in 10% bleach for 10 minutes. Do I then just set it on a drying rack and let it air-dry? Should I rinse the bleach off first with RO or distilled water? I suppose rinsing it with tap water would defeat the purpose of the bleach................................what I will tell you though is I clean EVERYTHING with 10% bleach (10 minute soak) between uses..............................
I've been meaning to ask you about that, because you talk about it in one of your videos. Let's say that I've just soaked my mantis enclosure in 10% bleach for 10 minutes. Do I then just set it on a drying rack and let it air-dry? Should I rinse the bleach off first with RO or distilled water? I suppose rinsing it with tap water would defeat the purpose of the bleach.
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