Help with moulting mantis

Wonderpants · Jul 21, 2020

I had 3 orchids arrive today (ordered 2, got 1 free

). The breeder messaged me yesterday that she thought they might be starting to moult to L3, and some unsold ones from the same ooth were moulting. Sure enough, one was lying on the floor of the pot when it arrived. I thought it was dead at first, but after a while, I realised it was still moving a little. The breeder suggested spraying the pot, gently dabbing the mantis with water, and attaching the legs of the shed skin to the mesh with sellotape so it could hopefully pull itself free, which I’ve done, but does anyone have additional ideas?

Synapze · Jul 21, 2020

It sounds like you've done all you can do. Probably the best thing to do now is just give it some privacy for a while and hope for the best. Good luck!

When you have health issues with your mantids, you should post to the Health topic. Your question will get more visibility and there will be more people to chime in with suggestions that may help.

hibiscusmile · Jul 21, 2020

Synapze said:
It sounds like you've done all you can do. Probably the best thing to do now is just give it some privacy for a while and hope for the best. Good luck!

When you have health issues with your mantids, you should post to the Health topic. Your question will get more visibility and there will be more people to chime in with suggestions that may help.

Ditto, would not get it wet, they dont breath thru a nose.

Wonderpants · Jul 21, 2020

Thanks, it’s been some hours now. Still hanging there, and I can still see his abdomen moving occasionally, whether that’s good, bad or indifferent.

And I wasn’t sure whether to post this in this forum or the health forum.