How long do you wait after a molt?

[loislane]

Hi!

I'm just curious to know how long people tend to wait before putting food in with their mantids after a molt?  We've got a male peacock mantis who just molted sometime overnight, pretty sure he's now sub adult.  He's only been eating once a week so because of the molt we're now on day 8 with no food, but I don't want to put any feeder insects in with him too soon. How long would you guys wait?

 

[MantisGirl13]

Congrats on the molt! I'd wait to feed him until at least tomorrow.

- MantisGirl13

 

[loislane]

That's what I was thinking.. it's just so hard to convince myself that it's ok for him to not eat for 9 days 

 

[MantisGirl13]

That's what I was thinking.. it's just so hard to convince myself that it's ok for him to not eat for 9 days 

Well, if he was prepping for a molt, he will eat when he wants to!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Mantis Lady]

Gratz on the molt. I wait a day too, if he not grabs his prey, he get it the next day,