paralyzed head

[Mr.Mantid]

My only Male chinese mantis head seems to be paralyzed. Yesterday I noticed it was clawing at its head. He seems to be blind and incapable of moving mandibles, attenae and to turn its head. He doesn't seem to be moving as much. At first I thought he was molting because he was on top of his little cage upside down twisting and turning around all funny with his legs planted. Since his head is incapable of movement or eating I think he will probably die. My only hope is for maybe a molt to hopefuly cure his messed up head. Has anyone come across this before?

 

[LauraMG]

That is strange! Maybe a mismolt gone completely wrong. How sad for the little guy

 

[hibiscusmile]

Not unless something got to him, Have u tried misting him with really warm water? see if that helps, usually this happens in a bad molt, I cannot imagine what is going on with him now.

 

[Mr.Mantid]

Nah it wasn't from a mismolt, he molted a while ago and hes been fine up untill yesterday. I failed to mention that liquid is leaking out of its mandibles. I fed him flys I caught from outside, maybe some parasite or chemicals is all in his head. I sprayed his head with water but it doesn't seem to be helping. His head is as good as a decapitated one, it didn't even blacken when i left him in the dark today. I want to know whats wrong with it for the sake of knowing. im really pod cuz it was my only male!! ah well.

 

[ismart]

You did not by accidently close a lid on on it's head or something? It sounds like he has had some trauma to the head?

 

[Mr.Mantid]

Nah, i use cheesecloth for a lid so i dont think that would do anything.... now his eyes are dark purple in the middle of the day, i dont think he'll make it, his abdomen is getting pretty flat ah well. Female food.

 

[Rick]

Most likely will be fatal. Since you don't know what is causing it I wouldn't feed it to another mantis.

 

[eur0pein]

my chinese had that happen to him then he got constipated and died.