Ghost on floor and weak after molt

[Graceface]

I just got home from work to find one of my Ghost males, Dash, on the bottom of his enclosure, laying limp. I thought he was dead, but he began moving when he heard/saw/felt me nearby.

He molted while I was gone, but his molt appears normal and I don't see any signs of missing or injured body parts. The molt was on the tulle on the lid of his 12oz cup enclosure, and he was on the bottom, laying on the damp paper towel. 

I ran quickly downstairs to get him honey water, and when i returned he'd made it up to the tulle and was hanging. I took him out, carefully, and gave him some honey water on a q tip. He keeps pushing himself up a bit, then lowering himself and laying flat, as though he hasn't got the strength to move or stand upright. 

He climbed back onto the side of his enclosure and is sitting there, at least he was 5 minutes ago before I started typing. I gave him some mist, placed the tulle back, and left him there to rest. 

IDK what happened to him! His molt seems fine, he isn't missing any body parts, but he ended up collapsed on the floor somehow. I thought at first he fell, but he has no apparent injuries. 



Any ideas as to what could be wrong, or what I can do to help him? 

 

[hysteresis]

@Graceface  I can send positive energy! ? ? ?

 

[Graceface]

I can send positive energy! ? ? ?

Thank you, Anything helps! ❤? 

He has moved himself to his bug ladder now. He clearly has use of his limbs and is moving around, so that's a good sign. It could just be the honey I gave him making it seem like he has energy, idk. I hope he recovers ? Not much I can do except wait and repeat the honey treatment. Maybe he will show interest in food. I haven't tried, since my Ghosts don't seem interested in food for 1 to 2 days after a molt.

Funny, he had no name (just a number) until today. Now that I named him he has issues. Ain't that the way it goes?!

 

[Mantis Lady]

I hope Dash gets well soon. If he is climbing that is a good sign. keep giving him honey.

 

[MantisGirl13]

He probably started moving around too soon after his molt and his limbs were still too weak to hold him up. Let him be for a while and he should be fine. In a few hours you can give him some honey and a prey item. How is he now?

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

He is still hanging on his bug ladder. I just gave him more honey water, which he drank readily. I offered him a fly, but he seems disinterested. I left the curly fly in his enclosure in case he gets hungry. He definitely sees it, so he knows food is there.

 My ghosts don't seem to want to eat for at least a day after a molt, so I'm not too concerned he didn't want the fly. My husband thinks he may have gone to the floor to drink water from the paper towel. Idk, but either way I'm glad he seems to be making a come back.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Good. I have had that happen before, and the mantis always recovers. I am glad yours is doing better.

- MantisGirl13

 

[hysteresis]

@Graceface

Les see some pictures of Dash when he's back up struttin' around! ??

But, this honey water technique... Is it okay to preemptively offer a bit of honey water to a healthy mantis? Even a gravid female? Do they like it? 

 

[Mantis Lady]

They like the honey I mostly give it to sick mantids but healty ones like to drink it too, I think

 

[Graceface]

Thanks for the positive energy, everyone! It's dark and hard to see, but I think Dash ate his fly while I was at work. He is on the side of his cup right now, chillin. Hopefully, that means he is out of the woods. I'll take some pics tomorrow

I've read conflicting info on honey. Some people swear by it. The PanterraPets Orchid care sheet says Orchids do well with weekly honey treatments. The US Mantis website says honey is bad for mantids. Personally, I've given honey to sick mantids with good responses but I don't regularly give it to them

 

[MantisGirl13]

Honey is a natural antibiotic and it will help to strengthen and heal a sick mantis or just be a sweet healthy treat for a healthy mantis. 

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

Here is Dash, looking Dashing! He seems to be fine now; he ate his fly and I put another in his enclosure.

Thanks for the positive vibes and reassurance, everybody!

 

[MantisGirl13]

Beautiful! ? I'm glad he is ok.

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

He looks normal now, Good he is doing ok and eats

 

[cwebster]

Glad to hear he is better now.

 

[hysteresis]

Awesome! ??