Help! Mantis alright?

Matt-Tucson · Jun 21, 2013

My Giant Asian moulted about a week ago, and prior to it happening I thought for sure she was going to die. She was droopy and weak, not very vital at all. Then I just decided to let her relax undisturbed for a few days. Lo and behold I was delighted to find her dirty laundry on the ground and her lookin all beautiful and new. She is probably an L5, about 1.25-1.5 in I have only had her a few weeks and got her from Rebecca at mantisplace.com. I haven't fed her since last night because her abdomen seemed pretty big and she ate what I think was probably a lot of crickets. Also she seemed slow to responed and a bit weak. After reading a post that seemed to apply I decided she probably needed to digest her food and that I wouldn't feed her today. Usually I just put some babies in there and take note of if she needs more. I two days ago or so she went for a second while she was holding the first so she seems to have had an appetite. Today, just 10 min ago I checked on her and she was on the roof of her plastic Petco pet carrier when she has been for two days. Her legs were spread very wide and she didn't getup while I flipped the top and set it down nor responded. I have the lid and her on it on my bed right now. She seems really slow to figure out where my finger is like she can't see. She has walked around a bit but not much. This seems so very similar to last week so I am wondering if its possible that she could be getting ready to molt again? Seems really fast, too fast to where I'm wondering if she overate or didn't get enough water, maybetoo much humidity? It has been about 70-80 humidity so I haven't sprayed much the last few days. I have never got her to drink unless I sprayed her directly. But didn't do that these last two days. Today I sprayed her a couple times and in front of her but she didn't go after the water as usual. Any ideas? Hoping she might need another molt since she did eat alot and this is just like before. How frequent are early molts? I dont really know that she is an L5. That's a guess. She has spread her legs again really wide and I put her back in the co trainer hanging upside down. Thanks for any help. Sorry for the long message!

Matt-Tucson · Jun 21, 2013

Legs spread so abdomen against grate. I have nearly obsessed about this mantis, :/.

agent A · Jun 21, 2013

The mid legs look a bit contorted perhaps from a molting accident, so that could explain the behavior

Shes tryin to figure out how to move again

Keep the cage out of direct sunlight, perhaps give her a piece of mesh, keep her at 65-75 degrees, mist once daily, and dont offer food for a day or 2, then offer a fly or something and see how she does

hibiscusmile · Jun 21, 2013

sounds right A, also is she eating at all now? If not sure give her food to her mouth and see if she takes it, if she is blind for some reason, she may need help getting food, don't over feed her, 4 bbs a day or one 3/4" cricket is plenty for a mantis her size, and they don't have to drink every day if they don't want too. ps, it is too early for another molt. If she was fat after the molt, it is not from food, make sure she can eat.

Matt-Tucson · Jun 26, 2013

Thanks Rebecca and Agent A,

She is doing great now. I think she may have overeaten, dont know for sure. After two days of no food she was back to her normal self. Thanks, I have family visiting and it just took me awhile to reply. I appreciate the help. I am going to try BBs, not sure that it is a good method for only one mantis, seems like a pain, but we'll see.

Matt