Lost the ability to hunt

[Jaywo]

Hi all, I have heard of this happening but never experienced it.

My mismolted Idolomantis just molted again... finally and he is much better. Has two half legs and working Raptors but still missing two tarsis. Able to kinda hang but seems fine moving about a bit.

Unfortunately, he is deathly scared of moving flies. I know, its weird.  He popcorns around the moment a fly gets near him. Once he did try to catch it then fell and that was his only attempt. He may have been trying to swat it away as well. Now he just runs away. After four days, I took the flies out and took to manually feeding him again. He was hungry and ate plenty.

Do you think he will ever regain his predatory behavior and catch his own prey? I don't see manually feeding him for another year as a viable option but I will if need be. There will be zero vacations for me.



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[Synapze]

Do you think he will ever regain his predatory behavior and catch his own prey? I don't see manually feeding him for another year as a viable option but I will if need be. There will be zero vacations for me.

If he was mine, I'd keep hand-feeding for a while longer. Perhaps as he begins to feel less vulnerable he'll calm down and start catching prey again.

 

[Jaywo]

If he was mine, I'd keep hand-feeding for a while longer. Perhaps as he begins to feel less vulnerable he'll calm down and start catching prey again.

Thanks @Synapze I will keep feeding him. As a skittish species, he is really comfortable around me and he is used to being handled so I'm rather attached. I think you are right, maybe when is he is 100% again, he will catch his own prey.

 

[Mantis Lady]

yeah, if he was mine, i will handfeed him till end of his life if he doesn't  hunt his own food amymore.

if you go on vacation, you can take him with you. I took my mantids on vacation too last summer.

 

[Jaywo]

yeah, if he was mine, i will handfeed him till end of his life if he doesn't  hunt his own food amymore.

if you go on vacation, you can take him with you. I took my mantids on vacation too last summer.

I may just find a mantis nanny. I have to go to Europe sometimes.

 

[MantisGirl13]

@Jaywo if he just molted, he might not want to eat for a few days. I wouldn't worry, but I hope he eats soon!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Jaywo]

@Jaywo if he just molted, he might not want to eat for a few days. I wouldn't worry, but I hope he eats soon!

- MantisGirl13

He molted 7 days ago. I tried again this morning and he freaked out at the BBF. I may try fruit flies and see how he reacts today.

 

[MantisGirl13]

He molted 7 days ago. I tried again this morning and he freaked out at the BBF. I may try fruit flies and see how he reacts today.

Hmm, ok, well I hope he took the fruit flies!  

- MantisGirl13

 

[Jaywo]

Hmm, ok, well I hope he took the fruit flies!  

- MantisGirl13

Yeah, same freak out with the fruit flies. I think I'll just hand feed and until he feels more confident.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Yeah, same freak out with the fruit flies. I think I'll just hand feed and until he feels more confident.

Is he taking to the hand feeding well?

- MantsGirl13

 

[Jaywo]

Is he taking to the hand feeding well?

- MantsGirl13

He takes the hand feedings really well. I know I should only feed Idolo flying foods but I took a chance today and put a small dubia that I stunned into his cage and he CAUGHT it and was eager to consume. At least that is a start. Maybe I'll start to freeze stun flies and see if he will go for those. Maybe pluck off the wings but that seems like BBF torture.

 

[cwebster]

Glad to hear he is back to hunting again.

 

[Mantis Lady]

That is good news. Nothing is so good as a good eating mantis

 

[MantisGirl13]

Awesome!That is a relief, I'm sure! I am so glad he is eating.

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

Glad he is eating again! Hoofully that is a good sign he will hunt again

 

[hysteresis]

Hope he keeps improving! 

Poor lil' idolo!

I want some one day! 

#goals

 

[MantisGirl13]

Hope he keeps improving! 

Poor lil' idolo!

I want some one day! 

#goals

Lol 

Me too! But it will be a while!

- MantisGirl13