This is my first post here. I normally just lurk, but I thought I'd share this with you.
Today I received a healthy batch of mantids from Mantidplace, and decided to check on them all for the second time today.
I immediately noticed one of the orchids was lying flat on her belly- and not moving.
I am NO expert on keeping mantids; An amateur in every meaning of the word. When I saw the orchid lying there, it took me several moments to realize she was molting, and must have fallen and somehow ended up rightside up. I had no idea what to do- and acted on impulse.
I picked it up and held it upside down while it molted. I couldn't think of anything else. So for the next fifty minutes or so, I sat. My hand was very shaky near the end and I feared I would make her fall, but she made it through Conveniently, I had a camera near me and took a few pictures during the process- They are poor quality due to my shaky hand, and only two came out well enough to share.
It was very scary. ): But it made it out okay- I nearly cried with relief when it crawled down onto my hand. Its back legs are not working well, they got stuck on the shed skin, but it is able to walk fine. Hopefully it will not interfere with the next molt- I would be devastated after all this.
My fingers were purple and tired, but the mantis was fine. Very worth it.
I'm glad I found it right as it was starting to molt, any later and she would have been a goner.
Did I do the wrong thing? I could not think of any other solution, but I am, as I have already stated, VERY amateur when it comes to keeping mantids. I have only been keeping for a little over half a year, and had no experience prior.
Today I received a healthy batch of mantids from Mantidplace, and decided to check on them all for the second time today.
I immediately noticed one of the orchids was lying flat on her belly- and not moving.
I am NO expert on keeping mantids; An amateur in every meaning of the word. When I saw the orchid lying there, it took me several moments to realize she was molting, and must have fallen and somehow ended up rightside up. I had no idea what to do- and acted on impulse.
I picked it up and held it upside down while it molted. I couldn't think of anything else. So for the next fifty minutes or so, I sat. My hand was very shaky near the end and I feared I would make her fall, but she made it through Conveniently, I had a camera near me and took a few pictures during the process- They are poor quality due to my shaky hand, and only two came out well enough to share.
It was very scary. ): But it made it out okay- I nearly cried with relief when it crawled down onto my hand. Its back legs are not working well, they got stuck on the shed skin, but it is able to walk fine. Hopefully it will not interfere with the next molt- I would be devastated after all this.
My fingers were purple and tired, but the mantis was fine. Very worth it.
I'm glad I found it right as it was starting to molt, any later and she would have been a goner.
Did I do the wrong thing? I could not think of any other solution, but I am, as I have already stated, VERY amateur when it comes to keeping mantids. I have only been keeping for a little over half a year, and had no experience prior.