MOLTING...how often....?
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Domanating
Well-known member
Depends on species. Generally speaking I believe mantids have between 6 to 8 molts.
Darkrai283
Well-known member
Yes, like you said, some species have shorter intervals between moults and others have longer periods.
Also, the period of days it takes for the next moult lengthens after each successive moult. Generally, with the easier species you can expect them to moult every 2-3 weeks depending on the temperature and the amount of food they're fed... With moults coming up faster when fed more than usual and kept at a slightly higher temperature.
Most breeders use this method (slowing down moults using food and temp.) when they have males and females that are at different stadia in order to try and get them to moult to adult at roughly the same time.
EDIT (reason): Domanating posted some things before me while I was typing this up.
Also, the period of days it takes for the next moult lengthens after each successive moult. Generally, with the easier species you can expect them to moult every 2-3 weeks depending on the temperature and the amount of food they're fed... With moults coming up faster when fed more than usual and kept at a slightly higher temperature.
Most breeders use this method (slowing down moults using food and temp.) when they have males and females that are at different stadia in order to try and get them to moult to adult at roughly the same time.
EDIT (reason): Domanating posted some things before me while I was typing this up.
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Domanating
Well-known member
It also depends on the size of the mantis you're giving food to. One tiny fruit fly can make a newborn mantis full for 1 day or even 2.
If your mantis is for example 4 or 5cm long or bigger, 2 flies will barely satisfy him, specially if he's a she.
2-3cm long mantids would probably be quite satisfied with only 2 flies and probably more be than full with one big cricket.
If your mantis is for example 4 or 5cm long or bigger, 2 flies will barely satisfy him, specially if he's a she.
2-3cm long mantids would probably be quite satisfied with only 2 flies and probably more be than full with one big cricket.
Right now I feel bad cause he is upside down (head pointed down) and just about touching the coconut husk flooring, looking like he is in the molting stage. He is hanging from an artifice plant I put in the terrarium. Why he is not hanging from any of the twigs or sticks I put I'll never know. It appeared since last night he has slid down the plant. I guess nature will take it's course.
Remove the plant and the mantis should hang from the lid. Make sure the underside of the lid has some sort of surface the mantis can grip.
But he is comatose, I tried getting him a twig I had. It is a 18 X 18 X 18 screened terrarium.
addition: got that taken care of. No artificial plants, more twigs and small branches.
addition: got that taken care of. No artificial plants, more twigs and small branches.
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Well, on 9/6/14...late evening the mantis went in molt. I found it on it's back in the coconut husk floor upside down and it appeared that the wings were bent from it laying on it's back. It was kicking it legs trying to right itself up and couldn't. So I did it for him and placed him on a foam sponge I use in the terrarium. And since he is not looking good. Or maybe it's just me. I attached a picture. He is still alive and it is going into the 3rd day. The last molt took him about 3-4 days to get back into a regular life and activity. Hope this is going to be OK.
Ranitomeya
Well-known member
It looks like it's missing tarsi on three of its legs from struggling to get a grip. It also looks like he's actually a female. She should be able to survive unless her struggles during her teneral state caused problems other than the ones visible.
In the future, you may want to very carefully move the object a mantis is molting from to a higher location so that it has enough room to molt properly. Don't attempt to move the mantis itself because it won't be able to grip properly if it's far along into the molting process. Was the artificial plant you used plastic? Avoid using smooth, poorly-grippable decorations if you feel the need to decorate at all.
In the future, you may want to very carefully move the object a mantis is molting from to a higher location so that it has enough room to molt properly. Don't attempt to move the mantis itself because it won't be able to grip properly if it's far along into the molting process. Was the artificial plant you used plastic? Avoid using smooth, poorly-grippable decorations if you feel the need to decorate at all.
Since someone mention to use real plants I have removed the artificial ones and install all small branched (twigs). And yes it was plastic plants.. Let's hope that she comes along. She is taking water and honey when I offer it. But no l;ittle crickets. She pushes them away.
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Ralphys_Mantids
Well-known member
Every 2-3 weeks
Crazy4mantis
Well-known member
they molt every 2-3 weeks is what Ralphys is saying.
She does not look like she sustained major damage but she will not be able to grip anything (its a she). that may cause problems, as mantises naturally need to climb. Also the legs may get infected. Closely monitor her situation she might be ok.
She does not look like she sustained major damage but she will not be able to grip anything (its a she). that may cause problems, as mantises naturally need to climb. Also the legs may get infected. Closely monitor her situation she might be ok.
soundspawn
Well-known member
This was an answer to your original question. If you are still curious, the real answer would have to be broad... 2-8 weeks. It will vary by specie and early instars molt faster than later instars... so your L2 nymph may molt after two weeks, but by L5 that same mantid may take 3-4 weeks before molting to L6. Basically they tend to slow down as they grow. Also heat and abundance of food can speed up the molt rate (or if reversed can slow it).
As for you gal she should be okay if you can keep her nutrition up for a few days (honey is fine for that). You'll want a special needs habitat, more ground space and keep the ground dry etc. She's not likely to do much climbing, and you don't want her food heading up branches...
