Idolo SERIOUS MISMOLT

[Emckenzie24]

My idolomantis, who may have been at risk due to his lack of one back leg from a fight - where he ate my other idolo - mismolted very very badly. I found him in the corner of his container still somewhat mangled in his molted skin. I gently lifted him out, thinking he was dead, and then saw his mouth moving. I gently pulled away the molted skin and examined his injuries. What can I do for him? I will do anything. I can wiggle but he can't seem to attach to much. He can eat though and has eaten a bit of honey. is there anything I can do to save him?

 

[brancsikia339]

Sadly nothing can be done. Best thing to do is to put him in the freezer

 

[Crazy4mantis]

It's best to freeze him.

Even if he survives he will have a miserable life.

 

[Emckenzie24]

((( ok, thank you guys. I tried to prepare myself for this but it gets me every time ;(

Also, do any of you ever notice heavy, labored, heaving breathing movements in a dying mantis? He's doing that right now

 

[brancsikia339]

yes, they pump their abdomens very fast. I put them out of their misery fast so i don't have to watch the poor mantis suffer I really hate mismolts. Feel bad for you

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Aww... poor little guy - what a sweet face... I hate mismolts too. Idolos are a really hard to keep species.

 

[Emckenzie24]

ok thanks guys. Yea they have been fine to care for they are just more fragile and prone to mismolts than my other species. The only species I have lost other than my first mantis have been idolos (one to mystery disease death and one to this mantis during a fight). I have been so fortunate so far to have very successful molts with all of them. I'm so sad that this one had to be so so bad. Especially since he is my oldest and we have been friends for a while now.

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Aww, you poor thing... It sounds like you really loved that mantis. My M. Religiosa Mandy mismolted the same way earlier this year. It was so sad

 

[mantid_mike]

Poor little guy. I've had this happen to me often with other species, the last being an adult Lobata female. I ended up feeding her to my Blepharopsis female, though I felt a little bad about it. I'm waiting on two male idolos to molt and crossing my fingers that they molt succesfully.

 

[Mime454]

Wouldn't they feel less suffering if you stomped on them? I don't know if I would have the heart to do it, but wouldn't it be best from the mantis' point of view?