Nymph Nine-One-One

[lectricblueyes]

I've just gotten 14 Acromantis Formosana nymphs in the mail. Nearly all of them have molted while being shipped and luckily, all of them survived

but

One of them seems to have 1/2 molted and is lying on the ground of the container with 1/2 of his molted skin on the roof. What can I do? He looks so sad. He can barely move. His little mouth is moving and sometimes he has little panic's where he spins in a circle at the bottom of the container. I misted him very lightly. I understand this helps molting? It doesn't look good for him. Anything I can do?

 

[lectricblueyes]

Okay, it seems he prefers being upside down since that's how they molt. I think he was simply knocked from the roof due to shipping/rough handling of the package.

So, I put him on a lid, and SLOWLY titled the lid until it's upside down. As I tilted the lid, he grabbed on with his 2 working limbs. Now, he's eating the molt off of his raptor limbs. Let's hope getting him upside down and working on his own molt helps!

 

[kamakiri]

The good news about this hobby is that many times mis-molts can be fixed when the mantis molts again. That is, as long as it can feed itself or has a keeper that will feed a disabled mantis.

The bad news: Freezer.

Good luck to yours.

 

[Rick]

Is it deformed? If so it depends on how bad the deformity is whether or not he will live. If you catch it as it happens you can help them. Usually though a fall during a molt doesn't end well.

 

[PhilinYuma]

You were very smart to get 14 nymphs if you wish to breed this species. I hope that your mismolted nymph recovers, but the fact is that it is highly unlikely that all 14 will survive to adulthood. The chances of their survival are much greater under your care than they would be in the wild, but always remember that mantids are altricial, in the broadest sense (just don't start on me, Hypoponera! :lol: ) and a lot of babies are supposed to die (otherwise the world would be overrun with mantids. Maybe not a bad thing). Humans are precocial; we have very few, helpless infants, which are highly valued, but it is a mistake to regard baby mantids in the same way.

Awwww! :mellow:

 

[lectricblueyes]

Thanks all. I'll let you know what happens. I think he'll die because he is badly deformed. His raptor limbs are not moving at all and he looks real real tired and... just not good. I almost want to put him out of his misery. There is a part of me, no matter how illogical... I just hate to watch life end. Even if it's not self-aware.. or has a conscious. Something about the end of life is sad. It's a bug, I've stepped on them on purpose.. but something is magical about these little guys

 

[hibiscusmile]

Lectric, ( I really like calling u that!) what are they molting from? I mean a lot of people have asked me lately why the mantis are falling off when molting and I have to ask just what kind of thing is it? They do best when on a cloth flower, twigs from outside the best, screen and things like that, u will almost never lose one when using a twig (rough) or screen.

 

[lectricblueyes]

Lectric, ( I really like calling u that!) what are they molting from? I mean a lot of people have asked me lately why the mantis are falling off when molting and I have to ask just what kind of thing is it? They do best when on a cloth flower, twigs from outside the best, screen and things like that, u will almost never lose one when using a twig (rough) or screen.

He died. Mismolted during shipping. Nothing I could do for him. The only mismolt I've had thus far. not too bad for a noob with 22 mantids. Mine are all kept in your containers With the cloth screen on top and a twig + that hay-stuff I bought from you.