mostly complete molt

[DinehCaveman]

One of my cryptics molted to L5 today. It is out of the exoskeleton, although it looks like the last two abdominal sections did not come out of the exo, they're grayish black in color like a bruise, and noticeably thinner than the rest. He is mobile I haven't seen him eat yet, not expecting to since he molted today. Has anyone experienced this? What's the likelyhood of survival?

 

[Paradoxica]

Can you post a pic

 

[DinehCaveman]

He looks healthy except for his butt.

 

[ScienceGirl]

After molting, mantids fill themselves up with air before their new exoskeleton hardens. This is how they increase their size. If the last two sections stayed within the old exoskeleton, this would constrict the new exoskeleton and would prevent the mantis from filling these sections up with air.

The internal organs and parts would grow along with the mantis, so they will probably be constricted by the lack of growth as well.

 

[Paradoxica]

Yikes, I've never seen that before. I hope it's able to pass waste alright.

 

[DinehCaveman]

He's now on the bottom of the enclosure,not standing kind of resting on the hip joints. He looks at ff and moves toward it but isn't quick enough. I don't think he'll survive, he's not bobbing the abdomen up and down. He's holding it up with a raptorial the other raptorial is under his thorax, between front legs(tried to get pic, he moved). I've never seen a mantid in this position.

 

[Paradoxica]

Cryptics do sometimes kinda slump down on the bottom of the tank in a strange way. The first few times I saw a nymph do that I thought it was a goner too, So don't give up on him just yet

 

[DinehCaveman]

I checked on him after I got back home, he was on the bottom on his side. No reflex reaction, not breathing. RIP No. 2.

He is the second male cryptic to mismolt, the first fell during it's L4 molt legs did not come out of exo and half of abdomen did not as well, and its neck was bent in a S shape.

 

[ScienceGirl]

I checked on him after I got back home, he was on the bottom on his side. No reflex reaction, not breathing. RIP No. 2.

He is the second male cryptic to mismolt, the first fell during it's L4 molt legs did not come out of exo and half of abdomen did not as well, and its neck was bent in a S shape.

Do you have it moist enough? Are there enough solid gripping surfaces?

 

[DinehCaveman]

There are sticks and ivy type vines in each. I had been misting twice a day, as they neared molting time. In fact I had misted him in the early afternoon. I'm noticing that the cryptics are a little wobbly on those long thin legs after a molt. I have 3 more cryptics that are due to molt in next couple of days.