Mismolt?

[Melophile]

After owning my two mantids for about a week and a half, one of them has molted. Unfortunately, I was at work and wasn't able to witness the molt. When I arrived home from work, the mantis's exoskeleton hung from the lid, so I assumed the molt went perfectly fine since the exoskeleton wasn't on the bottom of the enclosure which would've signaled that the mantis fell during the molt and was dragging its exoskeleton.

But after further observation, the mantis looked like he had a mismolt. He couldn't climb up the sides of the enclosure; he would climb a couple inches, but then he would fall. I'm not sure how to describe it correctly, but I would describe it as his legs are no longer sticky. The only way he is able to climb/hang upside down is if he had something to wrap his legs around. He can walk, but he walks kinda funny; sometimes, it looks like he's dragging his legs.

He looks really skinny, but I've read that it is common before/after the molting process. I'm not sure if he is eating or not. I usually put a couple fruit flies in his enclosure before I go to work, so I am unable to witness whether he is eating or not.

Here's a quick video I recorded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODRmRBUy2Po

 

[Sticky]

Mantids have tiny little claws on thier feet. That is how they cling. It must have lost them somehow, but the plastic is pretty slippery. What kind of enclosure does it live in?

 

[PrayingMantisPets]

Hmmm it's hard to tell at the moment. Can he hang onto some fabric? Or some mesh? If he can hold onto the fabric/mesh, make sure he hangs from it upside down. When he hangs, his new exoskeleton will harden. Mantises tend to get weak after a molt.

 

[Melophile]

Mantids have tiny little claws on thier feet. That is how they cling. It must have lost them somehow, but the plastic is pretty slippery. What kind of enclosure does it live in?

He lives in a 32oz deli cup with a fabric lid. Before the molt, he used to hang on the sides of the enclosure perfectly fine. He used to hunt while on the sides of the enclosure as well. He would hang on the side and snatch a fruit fly at the same time, but now he is unable to hang on the sides of the enclosure for more than a couple of seconds.

Hmmm it's hard to tell at the moment. Can he hang onto some fabric? Or some mesh? If he can hold onto the fabric/mesh, make sure he hangs from it upside down. When he hangs, his new exoskeleton will harden. Mantises tend to get weak after a molt.

He is able to hang onto the fabric of the lid. I have placed toilet paper in the enclosure, and it seems to help as well. It's been at least 24 hours since his molt and I don't think his condition is getting any better.

- - -

Here is some more video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNBrEq2Uxsw

 

[Sticky]

Get a hot glue gun and glue paper towel on the inside from top to bottom and most or halfway around it. That may help him better.

 

[Bloodtkr]

or just cut a 3 inch wide strip of paper towel longer than the cup and fold an inch or so over the rim then you dont need the glue gun

 

[Melophile]

Went on a mini vacation for 3 days and had to leave both my mantids uncared for. Fortunately, they both were still alive when I came back. I immediately fed them as soon as I walked into my room and they started feeding immediately; each ate like 5-6 fruit flies consecutively.

The mantis mentioned in the original post is eating fine and seems to be doing okay. I think one of his arms is semi-functional, but he is still able to grab prey with his other arm. I am pretty positive he will be fine for the next molt, I just hope he is able to hang correctly. I'm just gonna line his entire enclosure with toilet paper to be extra safe.

 

[CosbyArt]

The mantis mentioned in the original post is eating fine and seems to be doing okay. I think one of his arms is semi-functional, but he is still able to grab prey with his other arm. I am pretty positive he will be fine for the next molt, I just hope he is able to hang correctly.

Glad your mantid is still able to eat, and perhaps more importantly able to hand from his cup lid.

Indeed it is a mismolt/molting issue, and can happen to any one and any species (and in some species more common than a problem free molt sadly). Sounds like he should be able to molt again and clear up his problems. I've had a few who successfully molted and fixed their problems like that. Best of luck.