lovemymantisfriends
Well-known member
How long does it take for mantids to recover after molting? Any input would be helpful. How long do you wait before misting their enclosure and providing food?
Molt question
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Mantis Lady
Well-known member
A day after the molt I give food again. Mosts of my mantids starts eating again. Some not. offer the food next day again. Their cups I mist every day.
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Don't wait to spray, but wait a day or two after the molt. Hope that answers your question! 
- MantisGirl13
- MantisGirl13
Predatorhousepet
Well-known member
You can continue with your regular misting schedule, should be once a day. They lose a lot of moisture during a molt so they will probably be thirsty after but make sure to wait at least an hour after they molt to mist so that they can dry out properly first.
For food wait at least 24 hours. Feeding too soon after a molt isn't necessarily harmful but may cause something called "droop butt." (It can also be caused from other things such as molting from a horizontal surface, hanging upside down too long or moving too soon after molting.) It's not a harmful condition but it's not very aesthetically pleasing.
For food wait at least 24 hours. Feeding too soon after a molt isn't necessarily harmful but may cause something called "droop butt." (It can also be caused from other things such as molting from a horizontal surface, hanging upside down too long or moving too soon after molting.) It's not a harmful condition but it's not very aesthetically pleasing.
lovemymantisfriends
Well-known member
Thanks, everyone! How often do you guys handle your mantids?
I had a feeling one of my Ghosts was ready to molt and she was hanging from a leaf way too low to molt well. I decided it was better to disturb her and move her higher than let her molt so low. Glad I did that, she molted 2 days ago from the screen lid! She is happily eating a house fly now. I still have 1 who needs to molt and I am worried because she is spending her time on the side of the deli cup, not hanging. I may just move her too now that I know about droop butt....so many things consider!
I will keep misting and offering food, but I think she is preparing.
I had a feeling one of my Ghosts was ready to molt and she was hanging from a leaf way too low to molt well. I decided it was better to disturb her and move her higher than let her molt so low. Glad I did that, she molted 2 days ago from the screen lid! She is happily eating a house fly now. I still have 1 who needs to molt and I am worried because she is spending her time on the side of the deli cup, not hanging. I may just move her too now that I know about droop butt....so many things consider!
I will keep misting and offering food, but I think she is preparing.
Predatorhousepet
Well-known member
Ghosts aren't really prone to droop butt, it's mainly seen in Chinese mantises and others with a long thin abdomen. I wasn't sure what kind of mantis you had so I thought I'd mention it anyway.
They will generally move on their own to a high position to molt but not always. It's ok to handle them right up until they molt you just don't want to touch a molting or newly molted mantis when their exoskeleton is still soft as it can damage them. Only do this in extreme emergencies such as if they've fallen during molting and even then as little as possible. As for molting on the side of the container I've had several mantises do this with no issue but you can move them to the lid before they molt if you like.
They will generally move on their own to a high position to molt but not always. It's ok to handle them right up until they molt you just don't want to touch a molting or newly molted mantis when their exoskeleton is still soft as it can damage them. Only do this in extreme emergencies such as if they've fallen during molting and even then as little as possible. As for molting on the side of the container I've had several mantises do this with no issue but you can move them to the lid before they molt if you like.
MantisGirl13
Well-known member
Your ghost is a real cutie! I hope the molt goes well! With Predatorhousepet on your case, you are in good hands.
- MantisGirl13
- MantisGirl13
