How long to molt?

[nursemelody]

Okay.. Well I still have one of my Religiosa nymphs left alive. S/he seems very alert, mobile, and eats readily.. The only odd thing is, I haven't noticed a molt yet? Is this odd? S/he hatched 7/17. She has grown quite a bit, but haven't seen any molt in the cup.. Is it possible that s/he could have eaten the molt, or is it normal to not have molted yet?

 

[LauraMG]

Okay.. Well I still have one of my Religiosa nymphs left alive. S/he seems very alert, mobile, and eats readily.. The only odd thing is, I haven't noticed a molt yet? Is this odd? S/he hatched 7/17. She has grown quite a bit, but haven't seen any molt in the cup.. Is it possible that s/he could have eaten the molt, or is it normal to not have molted yet?

If you've noticed growth, then it's molted. Otherwise it would still look the same size. I don't know about eating it, I've never heard of that but I suppose it's not impossible. I'd think it's more likely that you breathed in the enclosure and blew it out. I've done that before. They're so little and light the slightest air flow will blow it all over the place! Just keep your eyes peeled for when the look larger from one day to the next

 

[lancaster1313]

:lol: I give all my exoskeletons to my daughter, so she can store them in a pill bottle. They hardly ever make it to her room in one piece, she tries to walk through the house with the skin laying on her open hand. They really do blow all over the place, and fall apart easily. :blink: "Uh, where did it go?" They are fun for kids to look at with a microscope or a magnifier. +1 to Laura's post. If the mantid looks bigger, it molted.

 

[Rick]

If it grew then it molted. You probably don't know what you're looking for, or you just don't see the molt. If the mantis eats crickets they will eat the shed exoskeleton.

 

[nursemelody]

Well, that makes me feel better. I am really hoping this little guy makes it, considering none of his siblings did. On the 17th he will be a month old.

 

[LauraMG]

Well, that makes me feel better. I am really hoping this little guy makes it, considering none of his siblings did. On the 17th he will be a month old.

The first little bit is very hard one them. I had a Chinese ooth that hatched and I have 1 that made it to adulthood out of 7 or 8 that I tried to keep. It just happens which is why they hatch in such great numbers. I hope he makes it too! Good luck!

 

[nursemelody]

She just had a beautiful molt, and almst doubled in size. Looking healthy!

 

[LauraMG]

Yay!