Mantid dying??????

[sk8erkho]

[SIZE=14pt]Help!! I noticed early this morning that my mantid's antenna were slightly bent at like a 45 degree angle on one and maybe a little less on the other instead of just straight as usual. Then just now when checking on them I noticed this one"s antenna are now very brittle looking and his legs are more wiry and stiff looking. I believe I got him in his 1st instar back in maybe January or so.?? I know it was 2007, though. Is it possible his life span is about nearing the end???? Maybe the change in weather?? It's much colder now in the apartment. I had to increase turn up the thermastat today. Could that be a factor??[/SIZE]

Anyone???

 

[idolomantis]

its possible that he,s nearing death. bud is he still eating andrinking or is he the whole time on the same place?

 

[Mantida]

Judging from the old pic, your male is on his way out. However, they generally show aging signs like this long before they actually die.

 

[joossa]

That makes him about ten months old! As previously stated, it's old age. Put him in the freezer for several minutes once you see that he can no longer climb and is has a sever limp in his walk.

Good luck.

 

[sk8erkho]

Wow,man. Time sure flies. :huh: I really didn't think about this until this afternoon. Yesterday, he gobbled down this huge cricket was jumping and climbing on my shirt, as usual when he's out. Likes to hang out on my shoulder!!! Today, he's all lethargic and what not antenna all sick looking and the realization is that he Is Old. Wow. Okay, it's not the first mantid I've lost to old age and I sure is Not going to be the last!!! I'm in it for the long haul!!!

Thanks all!!

 

[idolomantis]

Wow,man. Time sure flies. :huh: I really didn't think about this until this afternoon. Yesterday, he gobbled down this huge cricket was jumping and climbing on my shirt, as usual when he's out. Likes to hang out on my shoulder!!! Today, he's all lethargic and what not antenna all sick looking and the realization is that he Is Old. Wow. Okay, it's not the first mantid I've lost to old age and I sure is Not going to be the last!!! I'm in it for the long haul!!! Thanks all!!

euuuuuuhhhh no problem.... bud everything will die when its time has come

 

[Rick]

Just getting old is all. Sometimes they ends of their feet get brittle and fall off.

 

[sk8erkho]

You're right,Rick. He first lost his front right foot and I thought I might have accidently caught it in the lid cover or some junk. But, I made that mistake once when I first began rearing my T.A.Sinensis and am careful not to repeat it. And now that you mention it that same thing happened to the others that died of old age I just never connected the thing until now! But I know everything goes in time so it's cool. Not that they are dying but that that's the natural progression.

 

[OGIGA]

It's been 11 months so maybe it's getting near the time. Your mantis is probably capable of living longer. Remember, the warmer you keep your mantis, the faster it will metabolize. In other words, it will age faster. Personally, I don't freeze my mantises, but it's up to you.