Mostro is sick! Male Ghost mantid. Poisoned?

[agent A]

Mealworms and superworms are not something I would suggest as a staple diet. They are something that is best reserved as a a treat. I've found the chitin levels can can be hard on tiny mantis stomachs.

I personally dont know how anyone or anything (except birds and fish) could feed mealworms to or eat mealworms and be healthy

Most amphibians get real sick from too many mealworms

I dont use mealworms for anything but fishing bait

 

[MantidBro]

Just out of curiosity how often do you spray your mantids?

Only when they're getting ready to molt. Otherwise I put drops on my finger and let them drink it off that so their cages don't get too humid (which helps bacteria and such reproduce so I now avoid).

 

[MantidBro]

MB - whatever that antibiotic was, you should create a little black market. I would've tried some on Nikki Mantis! Dude, meet me behind the dumpsters at McDonalds. Cash, of course.

Lol. Right? If he does turn out to be fine after all this I'm definitely going to at least spread the word. I know, I'm thinking, I should have tried this with all my mantids who ever died of bacterial infections! Lol, the medicine is called Clavamox, you can actually buy it online. Just if you ever use it, only use a tiny, tiny amount. I ground a forth of the pill, put it in an inch of water in a small cup, and dipped his mouth with the water. He didn't even seem to notice it was in there, drank willingly.

 

[MantidBro]

Mealworms and superworms are not something I would suggest as a staple diet. They are something that is best reserved as a a treat. I've found the chitin levels can can be hard on tiny mantis stomachs.

Yeah a lot of people are saying that super worms aren't the best for mantids. I would have stuck with crickets, but a bad batch ended up killing my previous mantid, which turned me off to the idea of feeding any of my mantids crickets. What's chitin and what does it do to mantid stomachs? I did end up buying them flies online though which should come in soon.

 

[MantidBro]

I personally dont know how anyone or anything (except birds and fish) could feed mealworms to or eat mealworms and be healthy Most amphibians get real sick from too many mealworms I dont use mealworms for anything but fishing bait

Super worms are healthier than meal worms, but they are similar, and a lot of people are saying even meal worms are bad. I don't feed them the shell, they eat the guts, but I think that's where all the unhealthy stuff comes from anyways.

 

[agent A]

Super worms are healthier than meal worms, but they are similar, and a lot of people are saying even meal worms are bad. I don't feed them the shell, they eat the guts, but I think that's where all the unhealthy stuff comes from anyways.

They have barely any meat on them anyway

 

[MantidBro]

They have barely any meat on them anyway

Yeah true.

 

[BugLover]

any more updates on Mostro?

 

[MantidBro]

any more updates on Mostro?

It's the 6th day. Today he didn't puke at all so far, and it's mid-day. He ate cricket and had water this morning. This afternoon had water and some tea (antibiotic properties). Going to feed him again tonight, see what happens. He's back to being his old self today it seems! I'd say he's 85% right now. Only reason I don't say 90% is because there's still time left in the day. If he doesn't puke today, he's up to 90%.

 

[Sticky]

I am glad. I love a happy ending!

 

[sally]

i am pulling for him!

 

[MantidBro]

I am glad. I love a happy ending!

Me too! He's still alive, that's such a shock to me, considerin how unwell he was. He didn't puke even once yesterday after eating and drinking!! I'd say he's up to 90% better at this point. Hope it stays that way!

 

[MantidBro]

i am pulling for him!

Me too, thank you

 

[ScienceGirl]

UPDATED

Day 1: Mostro's abdomen started looking wet and sticky, as if it were drenched in something. Turned out to be runny feces.

Days 2 and 3: He started puking. A lot. Orange in color. Smelled slightly. He couldn't keep even water up, never mind food. He wasn't able to defecate, but was trying hard to.

Day 4: I took the risk to give him antibiotics; clavamox. That morning, he drank and ate, but puked afterward. Hours after giving him clavamox, he was able to drink and eat and keep it down. He also was able to defecate, though a small amount.

Day 5 (today): This morning he was able to eat and drink without puking, again. By mid-day, he was given more water and food, and that time he puked, but much less than previous, and it was clearer in color, rather than orange, and didn't have an odor. I think I gave him too much too soon, plus, I didn't give him any clavamox at that point. Later I did and he drank it, thirsty. Later I tried again with food, which he was able to keep in. He was also active today which is always a good sign, and he was able to defecate again, this time more than yesterday.

I think he'll make it through this as long as I keep doing what I'm doing. Which is:

.Very often offer him water.

.Keep trying to give him food, just not too much at a time (if he doesn't eat, he WILL die. As long as he doesn't puke every time he's fed, there's a good chance he won't die of starvation).

.Giving him a daily dose of clavamox (antibiotic).

.Don't over-stimulate him. Let him rest in his container.

This morning, before he puked, I thought he was around 80%. Now I reduced it to 70%. 70 is still much better than previous, which was like, 35%!

PREVIOUS

Another mantid to get sick. The cage was cleaned with antibacterial soap, any outdoor sticks/rocks have been boiled, so it can't be from that. I've been giving them meal worms, been doing fine. Recently bought them super worms, were okay.

But Mostro, my male Phyllocrania paradoxa, has been puking. Has runny feces. His entire abdomen is drenched in wetness from it. I tried getting it off but I can't without being rough, which I can't risk, seeing how he's so small. He can't keep anything up. I only gave him a small bit of water this morning and he ended up puking it up. He refuses to eat food at this point. Drinks a lot, as if dehydrated, but ends up puking it back up.

This happened to three other mantids of mine. Sir, Majesty, and Dakon. It was caused by tap water (thought it was filtered, turned out not to be). And they gave off a very terrible, specific smell, especially when they puked. I smelled Mostro's puke, and it didn't smell the way it did when they puked... rather, it smelled like some cricket food I've been feeding to the super worms. Called 'Flucker's orange cube cricket diet'. I'm thinking it's poisoned him... On the container, it says to feed the cricket to the pet at a specific time after the cricket consumes it. Is this because they die after a while, so you need to give them to your pet before they die? Either way, I'm at that point where I feel guilty for what I've done and am preparing for him to die. But even though I'm prepared, I'm also doing as much as I can to keep him alive.

Has anyone else ever dealt with this? Is it just my mantids who always die of this? I feel bad to keep mantids and get more, it seems they all die before their time. I feel like a mantid murderer.

Please get back to me.

ANTIBIOTICS!?!? Like, human stuff? If it is human stuff, I'd be surprised it didn't kill him...

Wishing him the BEST!

Fight through this, Mostro. :batman:

 

[sally]

That is too bad! At least he may be improving....

 

[MantidBro]

ANTIBIOTICS!?!? Like, human stuff? If it is human stuff, I'd be surprised it didn't kill him...

Wishing him the BEST!

Fight through this, Mostro. :batman:

Not for humans, antibiotics for pets, small doses can help.

He ended up dying though, seemed great yesterday, but today was hardly able to keep himself up.



I'm glad I still have the female though... at least she's healthy

 

[MantidBro]

That is too bad! At least he may be improving....

He died unfortunately, seemed better, but was hardly able to hold himself up today to my surprise...

 

[BugLover]

sorry

:innocent:

 

[sally]

He died unfortunately, seemed better, but was hardly able to hold himself up today to my surprise...

so sorry my ghost did also) so sad...

 

[agent A]

so sorry my ghost did also) so sad...

Oh no

I shall give u the $ back for the ghost