Concerned!

[Vee]

Hello!

Just last week I've picked up a young African Praying Mantis from a local pet store. So far all has been well.

Just the day before yesterday however, I had noticed a black dot that had formed at the bottom of her eye. Now I understand mantis' do have "pupils"(as I like to call them), but this one's different...

(Sorry for the bad quality, I'll see about getting a better one later)

So far she hasn't exhibited any unusual behavior nor seem hindered by it, but I'm concerned nonetheless.

I don't know what this is, what caused it and if it's threatening to her. I look forward to reading your answers, thank you!

 

[PhilinYuma]

Captive mantids, with their bulging eyes, are susceptible to eye injuries. There is nothing that you can do for it, so it is a good thing that it doesn't appear to be incapacitating. Please post on the "Introduce yourself' forum so that we can welcome you! (Welcome, anyway! Shh!)

 

[Vee]

Aha, fantastic! I'm really glad to hear it's nothing to be especially worried about. Nethertheless I'll continue to keep a good eye on it to insure it's nothing serious and doesn't get bigger. Thank you!

And by your request, I've introduced myself here > http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=21342

 

[Vee]

Okay, this is slightly embarrassing to say, but as I last handled her I had a good close look at the spot on her eye and discovered it was just a bit of dirt she possibly couldn't reach to clean! So after a careful moment with a small bit of tissue I've managed to brush it off and she's good and clean again...

Haha, sorry though, I'm still happy she's healthy and I can look back here in reference if ever a real problem of this nature comes up.

 

[jetsky82]

Hi Vee!

I'm glad to hear your issue is resolved. We were having a discussion about eye spots several days ago here:

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=21309

in case you ever have black dots like that again that aren't dirt.

Mike

Okay, this is slightly embarrassing to say, but as I last handled her I had a good close look at the spot on her eye and discovered it was just a bit of dirt she possibly couldn't reach to clean! So after a careful moment with a small bit of tissue I've managed to brush it off and she's good and clean again...

Haha, sorry though, I'm still happy she's healthy and I can look back here in reference if ever a real problem of this nature comes up.

 

[lancaster1313]

:lol: You only had a dirty mantis.

Many of my mantids have or have had "real" black spots on their eyes as they age. They can still see fine. It is weird that my darker colored mantids have great looking eyes while my lighter colored ones seem to get the spots more often. :huh:

 

[Ricardo]

Some of my chinese had eye defects like that. After a few molts it went away though