Missmolt

[Darth Mantis]

One of my Chinese Mantises mismolted last night. Its to late to try to do anything to fix it but the only things that got messed up are her two back legs so she should still be able to eat fine and she can still move she just kinda crawls a bit but her climbing ability does seem to be a little hindered but she dosent fall when shes hanging. Her two back legs are pretty much completely useless though so my question is when her next molt comes around will she be able to molt? What can I do to help? I've never had one mismolt that didn't die from it. Im not really sure why her leg got messed up though because it looks like she got out of her skin just fine.

 

[Synapze]

I had a similar experience with one of my mantids. Both hind legs were damaged (bent and twisted) and her tarsi lost. She had some mobility issues but still had a healthy appetite which is usually a positive sign. The most important thing now is to make sure she can hang for her next molt. I used tulle, a very fine and inexpensive mesh fabric, but any fine mesh would work. I draped it from top of enclosure to the substrate. She immediately began using it and was able to successfully molt. She completely regenerated after subsequent molts. Good luck! ?

 

[Darth Mantis]

Ok ill try that and hopefully he can molt next time. 

 

[Mantis Lady]

I hope he will get a good molt and he is legs will be healed.

 

[Darth Mantis]

Unfortunately he died today. Im not really sure why but I think his insides must have gotten messed up with his legs.

 

[Mantis Lady]

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Synapze]

Sorry to hear that. ?

 

[cwebster]

Am sorry for your loss. The Chinese mantises sure seem vulnerable to mismolts. 

 

[Darth Mantis]

Yeah they seem to be very vulnerable to a lot of things. I lost two in the same day one from a mismolt and one from a crease that formed in its abdomen.