Molting question!!!!!!

[Quake]

I have my African mantis in a 10 gallon tank with a few flower srpouts along the bottom for foliage.

He quickly grabbed onto the stick and wouldn't eat when I got him, so I assumed he was ready to molt, and I was right. He started this morning. But as it turns out, he molted above one of the flower sprouts, and as he is shaking, his arms are bumping into the plant and catching onto it, so he stops. He is taking a lot longer than I have ever seen a mantis take. Is this okay? I know not to disturb him, but should I take out the plants when he is done to be safe?

 

[hibiscusmile]

Can u move the plant without bothering it? like cut it off or pust it aside from him.

 

[Rick]

How long has he been like that? Molting takes only mere minutes so if he has been in that positon longer than 15 mins he will be stuck that way. If something is in the way just move it!

 

[Quake]

Good news. He took about an hour, but his wrestling with the plant knocked it down, bending the stem without my assistance, and crawled out. For some reason his molt was stuck to his abdomen for a good minite, but he shook it off with a litt ehelp from the wind (I blew on him ).

He molted fine, and we played all day while I potted some plants and family visited!

 

[hibiscusmile]

Wonderful news, the wind will do it every time!

 

[lectricblueyes]

Nice, didn't know about the trick to blow on them.

I have a horribly mis-molted guy. I used a needle and pulled some of the molt off but I think this guy is doomed. I was shipped 14 of them and so far this is the 2nd one that doesn't want to molt. I'm hoping it doesn't happen too much more. I better go read up his care sheet at Mantisplace. Maybe my humidity is too low/high.

Anyway, I fed him, by hand, a fruit fly that I had stuck the needle through. He actually ate some and even drank some water that I misted onto his lifeless raptor legs. I don't know, I think he's pretty doomed.