Okay, now it's not paranoia. I wish I could get a good pic. of her, man. Her new body is literally protruding out from her butt and now when she poops it is all jammed up there stuck and s***. I have tried everything there is and just leave her to it. I was even temped to spray her body to see if it would moisten the skin a bit more and help loosen it. But, all advice says not to bother them and not to spray the mantis directly. What else is there?? I would really prefer Not to have to lose her via asphyxiation, you know what I mean?
HELP!!
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Mantida
Well-known member
A picture would be helpful.
I make a warm water bath in a cup-o-fly container with a metal lid and put the mantis on that and then put the lid on to soak them for awhile. At first they dont like it, but they tend to not care after the first reaction to it. I will usually leave them for a half hour, changing the water 4 times during their bath! :lol: This is of course to keep the water warm, I mean who wants to hang upside down with their butts in cold water? They I like to feed them a fatty worm, hoping it will give em the runs. Don't think it works really, but they gotta eat! Sometimes then the frass will come off with some gentle pulling, if it don't leave it alone and try again later or keep up the warm bath, eventually it will come off or they will have a prune for a butt! The mantis head will be above the water if you put just enough in (you have to judge it depending on the size of the mantis) to cover its behind while it hangs from the lid. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR BREATHING!
Sorry I forgot to say that earlier, really did not mean for you to drown them Here's pic of the manis hanging from lid about to have her bath.
This one is where the butt is submerged...
and this one is the collected frass!
Nancy really did not like this and she attacked me when I helped her onto the lid!
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obregon562
Well-known member
try carefully cutting the old skin away just enough to be able to function normally...
Rob Byatt
Well-known member
Insects breath through spiracles on the sides of the abdomen, not through the mouth, so having the head above water will not help.
It is easier to spit on the end of the abdomen/frass to soften it.
It is easier to spit on the end of the abdomen/frass to soften it.
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:blink: Oh my! how come they don't drown? I must be lucky in keeping enough of them above water line. Boy, talk about feeling stupid!!! ha ha, but I don't this time Cause I learned something!
Cause I learned something!
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