Mantid stuck in skin!

[JTHMfreak]

You did the right thing by asking what to do first. When you said that it looked to be still molting, in the other topic, I should have let you know that it was taking way too long. Anyway, it is probably better that you didn't go in there all pulling on the skin when the mantid was still teneral. One wrong move while they are still soft can tear their legs right off.

The good news is that Francis looks much better than the one I am caring for now.

Perhaps you can get a clear shot of the underside of its abdomen so we can stop referring ti it as "it"?

Wide abdomen with 6 segments, a GIRL!

 

[MantidBro]

Wide abdomen with 6 segments, a GIRL!

Nice! So Francis is Francina! Lol no jk

 

[lancaster1313]

With the proper husbandry, Francis the female is going to get big and live longer than a male will.

 

[JTHMfreak]

Well I will attempt feeding her a honeyed fly later, hopefully with good results.

 

[lancaster1313]

Francis looks pretty good.

Depending on her temperament, it will either be no problem, or a pain in the patoot.

 

[MantidBro]

Well I will attempt feeding her a honeyed fly later, hopefully with good results.

Good luck bro.

 

[JTHMfreak]

If francis will not take stick honey flies, how long would she survive on just honey? Til the next molt?

Put some honey on a skewer and stuck 2 ffs on it, lets hope they get eaten.

 

[JTHMfreak]

Francis looks pretty good.

Depending on her temperament, it will either be no problem, or a pain in the patoot.

She just ate some honey and the head of a fruit fly. Wasn't exactly easy, but not too difficult either. But I did have to put her in the palm of my hand to feed her. Would have loved to get a pic but all my hands were busy. About how much should she eat daily or everyother?

 

[ScienceGirl]

Congrats! As with all molting, humidity helps. Way to go by offering her honey (carbohydrate, trace minerals, antibacterial) and the fruit fly (protein and other things).

 

[JTHMfreak]

I shall try to form a link with photos. I am horrible with computers so it will take a few minutes IF I can do it. lol

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7110

That was a big help btw, thank you

 

[lancaster1313]

I wouldn't go with too much honey with your feedings. When I use it as a sweetener, it is just enough so the small creature tastes it, just to get them started on the diet that is more natural for them.

Francis will need to have some good old fashioned insect meals and like them too.

I sometimes use a drop to test for appetite.

If I give it as a treat, it is after I know that the mantis has eaten naturally, and drank enough water.

I use royal jelly infused honey as a medicine for ill acting or injured mantids and roaches. I mix it with the food or water after the initial taste test.

Anytime I use straight honey or royal jelly honey, I will offer water before and after.

Edit:

Oh! How rude of me to write all that and not use manners. .

You are very welcome for the link posting.

Rick sure made a nice and easy to understand topic on mantid sexing. He is always straight to the point with his advice. :smarty:

 

[JTHMfreak]

Update: She just ate 1.5 fruit flies just now so that is good. Seems the appetite and the will are in place, just have to follow through on my part, which I will. Feeding Francis is at least less of a mes than when I feed my son, but very similar in how it's done. Hey that rhymed.

 

[sally]

Good, I am glad Francis is eating.

Update: She just ate 1.5 fruit flies just now so that is good. Seems the appetite and the will are in place, just have to follow through on my part, which I will. Feeding Francis is at least less of a mes than when I feed my son, but very similar in how it's done. Hey that rhymed.

 

[glock34girl]

Eating is always good news!

 

[JTHMfreak]

So tonight I fed Francis again. She surprised me by picking up a ff with her mandibles, tilted her head back and nom nom nommed all that she could before the ff fell out!

 

[sally]

Awww. I am glad she is trying to eat on her own. Hopefully next time she can pick it up, chew and swallow the ff all by herself. It sounds like you are handing the situation like an expert! Cheers for Francis, keep it up

 

[JTHMfreak]

Awww. I am glad she is trying to eat on her own. Hopefully next time she can pick it up, chew and swallow the ff all by herself. It sounds like you are handing the situation like an expert! Cheers for Francis, keep it up

HAHAHA I'm far from an expert, but I am patient. I also have almost 2 years of feeding a child (Aedan who is my son will be 2 on the 13th) so that is where I learned how to feed lol , So I do understand a little about how to feed someone, the mantis is easier and less messy though

But I do hope that she makes it to the next molt and successfully overcomes this problem. I will say though that hand feeding my little girl has made me feel closer and much more like a parent to her. I hope that a single ff a day is not too much. She can be finnicky, but if put in front of her enough she will eat. I just want her to be healthy enough to molt again.

 

[MantidBro]

HAHAHA I'm far from an expert, but I am patient. I also have almost 2 years of feeding a child (Aedan who is my son will be 2 on the 13th) so that is where I learned how to feed lol , So I do understand a little about how to feed someone, the mantis is easier and less messy though

But I do hope that she makes it to the next molt and successfully overcomes this problem. I will say though that hand feeding my little girl has made me feel closer and much more like a parent to her. I hope that a single ff a day is not too much. She can be finnicky, but if put in front of her enough she will eat. I just want her to be healthy enough to molt again.

It seems like things are definitely heading in the right direction. Good thing you are patient and have experience feeding, lol. I can understand how mantids are less messy. I don't think a fruit fly a day is too much, it might even be too little, honestly, seeing how she's L5. But the fact that she's eating is definitely a good sign. It DOES make you feel closer, too, to hand-feed them... I've noticed that, too.

 

[JTHMfreak]

Francis ate 3, count em, 3 fruit flies tonight. She was also jumping all over the place. So it seems like her strength as well as appetite are both returning.

 

[JTHMfreak]

So, Francis did not eat tonight or last night (unless you count the honey she licked off of the flies), But I am strangely not worried. She seems to have a lot (and by a lot I mean A LOT) of energy. When I take her out to feed and put her on my hand, she runs around like crazy, she also likes to do what I call the "jump of death" which is jumping off of my hand 3-4 feet to the ground, she does this 2-3 times a night.