Old girl: preventing injury?

[Cheirogaleidae]

So my Chinese mantis I found two weeks ago is having some health troubles. She has broken two of her feet (which causes her to fall) and the tips of her wings are flaking off. I found a thread from 2005 that says that these are normal signs of aging. Is there anything I can do to slow this process, especially to keep her wings from breaking further?

On a happier note, she laid her second ootheca (that she has had whilst a pet, anyway) yesterday and takes crickets with gusto. Hurrah!

 

[ismart]

sadly there is really nothing that can be done. Just provide her a happy comfortable life untill the end.

 

[kamakiri]

My only suggestion is to provide something softer for her to fall on, and twigs/sticks/chopsticks that are easy to grip.

I had a european last year that only had one walking leg. She got by okay on her own because I gave her enough to hang from and materials that were easy to grasp.

Good luck to your aging girl!

 

[Cheirogaleidae]

My only suggestion is to provide something softer for her to fall on, and twigs/sticks/chopsticks that are easy to grip.I had a european last year that only had one walking leg. She got by okay on her own because I gave her enough to hang from and materials that were easy to grasp.

Good luck to your aging girl!

She can no longer grip even the most lichen-encrusted branches, so she's sitting on my plants all day instead, which I have surrounded with ancient hoodies so she won't injure herself in falls (and so she can right herself when she does fall). Thanks for the tips, I only wish she could hang onto chopsticks!

 

[elf run1]

So my Chinese mantis I found two weeks ago is having some health troubles. She has broken two of her feet (which causes her to fall) and the tips of her wings are flaking off. I found a thread from 2005 that says that these are normal signs of aging. Is there anything I can do to slow this process, especially to keep her wings from breaking further?On a happier note, she laid her second ootheca (that she has had whilst a pet, anyway) yesterday and takes crickets with gusto. Hurrah!

hmm goodluck and keep us updated!

 

[Rick]

All normal and nothing you can do to stop it. Might I suggest a different hobby if it bothers you. Mantids don't live very long.

 

[Ntsees]

So my Chinese mantis I found two weeks ago is having some health troubles. She has broken two of her feet (which causes her to fall) and the tips of her wings are flaking off. I found a thread from 2005 that says that these are normal signs of aging. Is there anything I can do to slow this process, especially to keep her wings from breaking further?On a happier note, she laid her second ootheca (that she has had whilst a pet, anyway) yesterday and takes crickets with gusto. Hurrah!

In regards to aging, there's nothing you can do about it. The only thing I can say about keeping her wings from flaking off is to keep her in a larger container with room but this requires her still being able to walk. If she can't walk right, then a larger container probably won't help.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Not really any reason to change hobbies, just have to adjust to them going, we all die, it's the livin that counts! U r giving her all she needs, most are not that lucky.

 

[Cheirogaleidae]

Thanks everyone! She seems worse, now one of her front claws is blackened and stuck. I would run a search, but

(1) I think I already read about this and

(2) she's sitting on my hand (and is 'licking' me just now -- not biting -- which is odd), which makes typing a chore.

 

[ismart]

(2) she's sitting on my hand (and is 'licking' me just now -- not biting -- which is odd), which makes typing a chore.

She's thirsty, give her some water.

 

[Katnapper]

She's thirsty, give her some water.

+1

 

[Cheirogaleidae]

She's thirsty, give her some water.

*She had a drink and some crickets shortly after I posted this.

 

[ismart]

*She had a drink and some crickets shortly after I posted this.

Cool!