Injured my nymph on accident

[kirsten]

I just got 2 L1 Chinese nymphs earlier this week and accidently closed the deli cup lid partially on one. After a feeding I made sure it was at the bottom so I could close the lid but it jumped too quickly in the exact spot the lid closed. I stopped before snapping to check where it was at and once I noticed I took the lid off right away. I'm afraid the damage has been done already but my nymph is still alive, however seems like it cannot stand upright or walk much. No bleeding, or any obvious missing limbs. It might have damage to its arms, but it's so tiny it's really hard to tell. I was so excited to get into mantids, they are my first and now I feel horrible. This one was a sweet one too, the other is more skittish. Since its still alive, does it have any hope? Should I try feeding it? Or should I end its life so it doesn't suffer any longer? (Seems horrible to do)

 

[kirsten]

Nevermind.. It passed

 

[Serle]

I am certain that like myself we have all injured and killed more Mantids with love , caring , opening and closing lids . Don't feel bad ....... S

 

[kirsten]

I am certain that like myself we have all injured and killed more Mantids with love , caring , opening and closing lids . Don't feel bad ....... S

Thank you ?

 

[PrayingMantisPets]

This happened to me with multiple mantises but it wasnt so bad, it was like a tight squeeze and i freaked out, but i never seriously injured a mantis like that.

 

[Kermit]

Kirsten, 

This is an experience that mantis hobbiest  have had happen many times. It tugs on your heart but it's one of the mistakes that we learn from in our quest to master raising these incredible creatures ?

Putting an access hole in the side of your cup or enclosure then cutting a sponge plug to fill the hole is a safe alternative to the risk associated with taking on and off the lid.

 

[kirsten]

Kirsten, 

This is an experience that mantis hobbiest  have had happen many times. It tugs on your heart but it's one of the mistakes that we learn from in our quest to master raising these incredible creatures ?

Putting an access hole in the side of your cup or enclosure then cutting a sponge plug to fill the hole is a safe alternative to the risk associated with taking on and off the lid.

Thanks for the tip. I'l be sure to do that!

 

[Connor]

Don’t worry about it. It happens to us all sometimes. You just got to move on.

 

[Jessie]

Let me tell you a story. This will make you feel a lot better because I completely feel like for this happening. My mantis angel. Who's a shield mantis? I, usually after she molds, put my hand under her and gently put her on my hand and take the shell off and hang up to dry. Well when I did that she got her legs caught in her shell and for like 20 to 30 minutes so basically her legs are all deformed and 2 of them broke almost completely off Well when I did that she got her legs caught in her shell and for like 20 to 30 minutes so basically her legs are all deformed and 2 of them broke almost completely off.

 

[Jessie]

I spent I kid you not 2 to 3 hours trying to get her to hang, so she could drive herself off and her legs broke off and she started to bleed. I started to cry and freak out. I felt like a terrible person,I still feel like a terrible person and I still cry over it. She wasn't happy. She would have survived a good life with little buds on 2 of her legs, and when I held her and I asked her even though I didn't expect an answer, what do you want me to do? Do you want me to freeze you and do the humane thing, or do you want me to let you live? She started to chirp and I kid you, not she talked to me, she started chirping and looking into her eyes. I knew that that wasn't a life that she'd want. I know people don't believe they have emotions, but I've never heard that noise coming out of one of them and I put my head near her mouth, it was coming from her mouth, she was chirping at me, she was in pain and I don't care if people don't believe that they can't be in pain the way she just looked at me, I knew I had to do the humane thing. I have people now that stop talking to me because of that. So on this happens to everybody. It's something that you don't do on purpose and it's something that sometimes it just happens.

 

[cwebster]

Has happened to me too. They are so fast, when they are tiny. I always feel terrible but i know it wasnt on purpose. 

 

[River Dane]

I’m sorry for your loss. Accidents can happen, this one was particularly unfortunate. I never really liked the habitats with pop-on lids. I’m sorry you had such a negative experience with your first Mantids, hopefully you enjoy the company of your other friend!