Mantid stuck in skin!

[lancaster1313]

Have you tried giving her any moths, or anything without honey?

I think they get sick of honey and just have to lick it sometimes because it is sticky, and they need to keep clean. I test to see if they really want honey by putting it to their mouth and taking it about a centimeter in front of them. If they move forward trying to get it, then they actually want it.

Is she able to groom her face with her claws at all?

 

[JTHMfreak]

She seems able to groom her face with claws.

 

[lancaster1313]

Great!

 

[JTHMfreak]

Here are some pics of her eating a ff with nothing more than her mandibles, just picked up the ff and ate it completely, then she just hung out.

 

[JTHMfreak]

Here are the best ones from late last night early this morning, she ate about 3 of the flies.

 

[sally]

I am so glad she is doing well. You are doing a great job with her

 

[JTHMfreak]

I am so glad she is doing well. You are doing a great job with her

Thank you. I just hope that her next molt goes well enough to be able to capture and eat prey on her own.

 

[JTHMfreak]

Tried to offer a water moth last night but it was a no go and she ended up with fruit flies instead

 

[JTHMfreak]

Hopefully her molt will happen soon, I feel that it should be anyday now, got some cool pics and vid of her eating up close, will upload later when I get a chance

 

[JTHMfreak]

Well between 1am and 3am Francis died, I checked on her not long ago and found her motionless standing up at the bottom of her enclosure. The odd thing is that she was exhibiting so much energy earlier tonight when I fed her. I wish I knew what caused this so I can avoid it next time. Really bummed out by this.

 

[sally]

So sorry. You did so well with Francis

 

[Tony C]

Well between 1am and 3am Francis died, I checked on her not long ago and found her motionless standing up at the bottom of her enclosure. The odd thing is that she was exhibiting so much energy earlier tonight when I fed her. I wish I knew what caused this so I can avoid it next time. Really bummed out by this.

Losses are inevitable, species which reproduce en masse do so as a strategy to compensate for a high rate of mortality. You can reduce the rate of loss with good husbandry but it cannot be eliminated, even under the best conditions some just aren't meant to make it.

 

[JTHMfreak]

Well, it appears I was wrong. I thought maybe I should hang her upside down and check on her later, and there is movement. Has anyone experienced this before? Seven hours ago she was not giving any signs of life at all, even after being picked up. Could this finally be the molt?

 

[Sticky]

Could be, try to hang her carefully and wait to see what happens.There is always hope!

 

[JTHMfreak]

I hung her with great care, unfortunately I have to be out for a couple hours later on for a job interview, so I won't be able to help her out if she gets stuck. Why would she have tried to molt standing up though, if that is what was going on.

 

[sally]

Maybe she didn't have the strength to make it to the top. Or maybe she fell and couldn't get up... Good luck Francis

 

[JTHMfreak]

Well she is alive, and in the molting position. She is hanging from her back most legs fully outstretched, her middle set extended to the side, and her arms doing her thing. I am going to keep an extremely close watch on her tonight, how long should I expect for this molt to take?

 

[sally]

I am not sure. I hope she has enough strength to get all the way through the molt. Here's hoping for the best

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Any updates? I hope your little dear made it.

 

[JTHMfreak]

She fell a couple of times, two to be exact. I was able to prop her into the molting position, but I am not feeling very optimistic about it. She is currently upside down with absolutely no movement. But I just can't bring myself to the point of giving up, I thought she was dead 24 hrs ago, and then she showed life! But right now she just hangs still, with no movement at all. The worst part is she is my second mantis, the first did not survive, she survived much much longer, but throughout doing all the hand feeding I became attached. I guess if it does not work out I will give it one last try and hope for the best, but my hopes are not very high.