Footloose

[Digger]

I assume some of you have experienced this with older mantids: Nikki Mantis lost a foot last night (one of the walking legs). I dressed the open wound with a bit of honey.

jeez, I hope she's not becoming a zombie !!

 

[agent A]

Sorry to say but as they get real old this happens

I've seen pseudoharpax gals lose all 4 walking legs and half their wing matter before their abdomen collapses and they die

I've also seen creos bite off legs and die

Nothing you can do but keep caring for her until she dies

 

[Paradoxica]

That's the sad truth, funny title though!

 

[Domanating]

Yeah my female Religiosa with the prosthesis has lost all the tips of the the 4 back legs. Add that to a semi-functional claw and one that has been cut off at the elbow and you've got a mantis almost completely unable to climb anything.

Amazingly I have another female in tip-top shape.

 

[Digger]

Thanks all. Yes, she's gotta be 90 in people years. Still eating though.

No more terrarium for her. Fluffy Egyptian cotton bath towels to rest on and Mothra movies to watch!

 

[Sticky]

Sticky lost his old man finger after it was stiff for a month and angled out in a funny way. I miss him!

 

[Sticky]

How is Nikki doing today? I hope she is comfy and still hanging in there.

 

[Digger]

I'm running after her like a nanny. She still wants to climb, but with less strength and missing two tarsi, she gets a little way up then falls. She's pretty much out of her terrarium for good, sitting wherever she wants. Doesn't move much. But she's still eating a cric a day. As you mentioned above - another tarsus is bent in an unnatural way; although it still seems functional for walking. Yesterday had her resting on an Egyptian cotton towel (with small peaks to climb) and giving her honey.