P. griffinii not molting. Having trouble.

[Malakyoma]

Hey guys. one of my polyspilota griffinii nymphs seems to be stuck. (s)he hasnt molted, and looks small enough to still be L5, while all her brothers and sisters are already L7. she seems to be having trouble using her back legs too. I dont see her drink, she takes very little honey and doesnt eat at all. I'm getting worried about her. Any suggestions?

 

[Mr. Hyde]

I don't know about the behavior of this species, but I do know any time that I've had issues in the past with odd behavior, it is usually related to diet.. I guess I'm saying, when my kids have acted odd it is usually because they are either not eating, or not getting as much as they should from the food they have. My chinese was lethargic until I forced a grasshopper on her. Then she pepped up and started hunting pretty much everything. My L3 Idolo didn't molt for about a month because all she had to eat was about 6 ffs a day (if that)... not really enough for her to grow until I switched her to house-flies and BBs. She molted withing a week after the switch... then again 12 days later.

So that could explain the molt, and perhaps her back legs. As for the drinking, I know some species do require some amount of liquid water, but most are designed to get their water from their food so I wouldn't be too worried about that.

I would suggest to offer her something else to eat. Someone posted on here about a ghost that wouldn't eat. So they finally chopped the head off of a wax worm or super worm (I forget which) and the ghost slowly took to it... got stronger and bigger. Then even started to move around.

 

[Malakyoma]

The thing though is that I've tried that. I've tried giving her honey, I've tried cutting things and giving them to her and she'll take like a nibble or two but she wont grab it or eat. Its like she's been ready to molt and looking for a spot for 2 weeks.

 

[Mr. Hyde]

Mine are iffy on honey too... The only thing I can say is that you need to keep trying new food... I know it sucks because it may be a waste to but a whole order of one kind, and no one eats it. What do you feed the other ones?

 

[Krissim Klaw]

I've run into this once it was a different species. I had a boy that went off his food for over a week pre molt and was getting very lethargic. I tried upping the humidity via spritzing the cage like usual but it was a no go. As a last ditch effort to get him to shed, I took a steamy hot shower, brought the net cage with the mantis in the bathroom then getting out of the glass shower I placed the cage in there and closed it back up. I left him there for about a half hour and then returned the cage to its normal spot. Literally five minutes later I peaked in to check on him and he had slipped right out of his skin in a perfect molt.

 

[Malakyoma]

Mine are iffy on honey too... The only thing I can say is that you need to keep trying new food... I know it sucks because it may be a waste to but a whole order of one kind, and no one eats it. What do you feed the other ones?

Recently I bought some waxworms as a treat. Usually mealworms and beetles. All the others take to them fine. I've tried everything I have, including cutting it and putting it to her mouth. I can see the mouth piece move very slowly for a couple seconds then she pulls her head away and wants absolutely none of it.

I've run into this once it was a different species. I had a boy that went off his food for over a week pre molt and was getting very lethargic. I tried upping the humidity via spritzing the cage like usual but it was a no go. As a last ditch effort to get him to shed, I took a steamy hot shower, brought the net cage with the mantis in the bathroom then getting out of the glass shower I placed the cage in there and closed it back up. I left him there for about a half hour and then returned the cage to its normal spot. Literally five minutes later I peaked in to check on him and he had slipped right out of his skin in a perfect molt.

Super steamy goodness treatment? Will give that a try and report back.

 

[Malakyoma]

He's not moving much at all tonight. Barely supporting his own weight, when he hangs its by his front claws and one middle claw. I don't think he's going to make it through the night

I wonder what I could have done to prevent this? He was raised in the exact same setting as the other 6 which had no problems at all.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

He's not moving much at all tonight. Barely supporting his own weight, when he hangs its by his front claws and one middle claw. I don't think he's going to make it through the night

I wonder what I could have done to prevent this? He was raised in the exact same setting as the other 6 which had no problems at all.

I'm sorry things aren't working out. One of the downsides to mantises is it can be hard to figure out why things don't work out for some individuals.

 

[Mr. Hyde]

...He was raised in the exact same setting as the other 6 which had no problems at all.

This is the part throwing me for a loop. But perhaps there was something more that you couldn't see, like something wrong genetically and s/he was just not going to make it. Sorry to hear.

 

[Malakyoma]

This is the part throwing me for a loop. But perhaps there was something more that you couldn't see, like something wrong genetically and s/he was just not going to make it. Sorry to hear.

Thats what Im thinking, but then I wonder why it would manifest at L6 and not much earlier?

 

[Mr. Hyde]

Like I said... A loop has been thrown. :blink:

 

[Sticky]

How is he now?

 

[Malakyoma]

How is he now?

I'm sorry to say I came home that night from the chiropractor and he was already gone.

 

[Sticky]

Im sorry.

 

[Malakyoma]

Me too. Don't know what I could have done differently. If I did I would have done it.