My mantis is not eating and lethargic, just how my other mantis died.

[Mitch65009]

Hi there! I'm really confused at this, and think that my now adult hirdoula will die. He has really not liked eating ever since he before he molted into an adult. I get him to eat here and there like every 5 days. It would be a large half size cricket, and he'd usually eat them all. Last night I fed him, and he grabbed it. But he got close to half way done, and then he dropped it. I thought it was strange, but I thought maybe he'll be okay. I woke up this morning, and now he is just hanging on by a leg, and isn't very responsive to much. I picked him up and put him on my arm, and he just floped around on my arm not moving. I put him back, he rearranged himself and seems very out of it. Why is this the second time this has happened to my adult Mantids? Their fine right until they get their wings and now I have problems. Someone please help me understand what's going on here. Thanks. 

 

[Synapze]

How long has he been an adult?

What are the environmental conditions? Humidity? Temp?

How often and how much do you typically feed?

 

[Mitch65009]

How long has he been an adult?

What are the environmental conditions? Humidity? Temp?

How often and how much do you typically feed?

He's been an adult now for maybe 5-6 days. It's pretty warm in my house, about 30°C. I spray him about once a day, I wouldn't be able to give you the exact percentage of humidity though. 

I try and feed him every other day, he usually rejects, but sometimes he will grab it. I'd say he eats almost every 5 days though, cause he just usually doesn't want to eat what I give him. 

 

[hysteresis]

If he's an adult, that's normal. They want one thing, and it ain't food.

 

[Synapze]

30°C is kind of on the high side for this species. Around 24° I think is considered a good target. Keeping temperature consistently on the high side, and/or overfeeding, will speed up metabolism and can significantly shorten lifespan. Certainly doesn't seem like overfeeding.  

Lack of proper ventilation and high humidity are the biggest killers of this species, so you may want to buy a humidity meter. You can get a cheap meter for a free bucks. 

Good luck! I hope your guy improves. It could just be a fluke that this has happened to you twice. 

 

[Mitch65009]

If he's an adult, that's normal. They want one thing, and it ain't food.

That's what someone said at work today good chance of that. Haha

 

[Mitch65009]

30°C is kind of on the high side for this species. Around 24° I think is considered a good target. Keeping temperature consistently on the high side, and/or overfeeding, will speed up metabolism and can significantly shorten lifespan. Certainly doesn't seem like overfeeding.  

Lack of proper ventilation and high humidity are the biggest killers of this species, so you may want to buy a humidity meter. You can get a cheap meter for a free bucks. 

Good luck! I hope your guy improves. It could just be a fluke that this has happened to you twice. 

I'm not sure how I'd be able to drop my temperature. We are lacking money and are having an a/c problem in our apparently, so I'm not sure how I could get it lowered. I know there's good ventilation, but I'll definitely get a humidity meter and check that out. It just really confuses me that their fine until their adult. But what's a target humidity for them?

 

[Synapze]

But what's a target humidity for them?

Somewhere in the range of 40-60%. 

 

[Mitch65009]

Somewhere in the range of 40-60%. 

Okay great. I'll give that a check soon. For the mean time, what should I do to keep him alive? It really seems like he could be dying. Should I keep trying to feed him? Or just wait until he wants to take it in a few days. 

 

[Synapze]

I would offer him water and something to eat. If he refuses, try again tomorrow.

 

[Mitch65009]

To be honest, now he seems pretty much done..I tried to hand feed him a cricket. The cricket bit on the him, he fell over and Sayed like this. I picked him back up after, but he doesn't move whatsoever. 

 

[hysteresis]

That's what someone said at work today good chance of that. Haha

No really. In my experience, adult males barely eat. Only when they're super hungry. If they eat too much, they cant curl their abdomen to mate. 

 

[hysteresis]

Ooooooh

 

[Synapze]

So sorry. 

 

[Mitch65009]

@hysteresis @Synapze do you guys think he's gonna pass soon??

 

[hysteresis]

He looks done. He's laying on his side, right? 

 

[Mitch65009]

@hysteresis yeah, he was. I picked him up, so he's upright for now, but he just stays there. There's movement, but only when I pick him up. 

 

[hysteresis]

@hysteresis yeah, he was. I picked him up, so he's upright for now, but he just stays there. There's movement, but only when I pick him up. 

Unfortunately, he looks done. 

Sorry dude. 

 

[Mitch65009]

Unfortunately, he looks done. 

Sorry dude. 

Damn man. Alright, thanks for the help. I'll keep y'all updated, but I definitely think you're right.