Help Sub Adult Orchid is sick

Mcgonigal32 · Jun 17, 2015

My sub adult orchid is due to molt any day. She hasn't eaten in a few days and now she keeps climbing her viv and falling to the ground backwards. She just lays on the ground on her back or side and then tries to get back up. I gave her some honey and it seemed to perk her up but she's doing it again. Is there anything I can do to help her. My heart is broken.

dmina · Jun 17, 2015

I am sorry for you.. I don't have any ideas.. except the honey... I have only had 2 of them... but I did want to acknowledge your post... hopefully someone will come up with an idea soon...

Krissim Klaw · Jun 18, 2015

What sort of surfaces do you have for her to cling to in the cage? Does the lid have screening or are their textured sticks?

In theory as a last ditch effot you could carefully tape her feet down in the right position and hang her upside down so she has a shot at molting. This would be last resort though.

Mcgonigal32 · Jun 18, 2015

She was in a plastic enclosure with a mesh bridge going from the bottom to top and her lid was all screen mesh. She didn't make it. The only thing she had out of the ordinary was a horn worm 2 weeks ago.

hibiscusmile · Jun 18, 2015

unlikely it was the worm, but could of been. This is typical of mantis that dont make it, once they start that, they usually die. We don't know why. I had half a dozen this last week do the same thing.