Mantis constipated?

[Matthewcmcginn]

Around 5 days ago I gave my giant Asian mantis a grass hopper I caught as I was hunting for bugs like I always do. It was relatively large roughly 2/3 to her. She hasn't dropped any pellets and her abdomin still hasn't gotten smaller. I'm guessing it's just taking a while for the exoskeleton to digest. She's behaving normal and not sick. I gave her water yesterday. Any ideas why she is not defecating?

 

[Synapze]

Have you been handling her a lot? Getting her out and letting her move around for a while might help get things moving. How old is she?

A picture would be helpful.

 

[Matthewcmcginn]

Shes an adult, seven months old. I take her out and let her explore this tree branch I have hanging on my wall every so often so she can move and to enjoy her without handling her the whole time.

She just dropped some earlier so she's fine, I always freak out when I think something is wrong. I'd hate to be the cause for an early death. 

 

[Matthewcmcginn]

She's definitely been defecating, so is she about to lay an ootheca?

 

[crabbypatty]

@Matthewcmcginn If she hasn't laid an ootheca already, she might lay one soon. Give her plenty of sticks and places to crawl on and she'll choose the right spot.