Possible fall after molt

[LauraMG]

I think that he fell from the lid when he was doing his final emergence. One of his hind legs is slightly deformed and his wing is tangled around one of his middle legs. Should I try to untangle his wing? I can't do anything for the leg obviously, but the wing maybe. Would it do more harm than good to mess with him? Please help!

 

[Rick]

He is actually a she. Nothing you can do. After several days you can snip that part of the wing off so it is not in the way.

 

[LauraMG]

Ok, thanks Rick. I stayed up late last night staring, watching, waiting to see if SHE (whoops!) was going to straighten out at all. She couldn't even dangled properly or climb because of the limbs that are deformed. She seems better this morning though. Any tips on properly snipping parts off?

 

[hibiscusmile]

If just the wing, just use clean sissors, if a part, clean shears in alcohol first, try not to drink any, as not to obscure your vision

 

[LauraMG]

Got it. Alcohol+scissors+sober=successful amputation

She's not gonna like this....

 

[LauraMG]

I don't think she really noticed anything happened, but it made me sad!

 

[lancaster1313]

I don't know much, but I think she looks pretty good. One of my chinese molted to L4 this morning, must have fallen and got a badly mangled rear leg. It looks like there is a "Z" on the tibia and is pionting up. Should I cut this leg? I'm not sure because of the young age of the mantdid. Does the larval stage make a difference concerning the decision to amputate?

 

[Ntsees]

I don't know much, but I think she looks pretty good. One of my chinese molted to L4 this morning, must have fallen and got a badly mangled rear leg. It looks like there is a "Z" on the tibia and is pionting up. Should I cut this leg? I'm not sure because of the young age of the mantdid. Does the larval stage make a difference concerning the decision to amputate?

If the leg was amputated, it'll grow back in the next few molts. However, that leg might not be as large as the others though. In the end, it's your choice, because for me, I'd leave the leg on and hope that the later molts will fix it.

 

[LauraMG]

Good to know! I left the leg, but did take off her wings today. I figured the leg offers her some support at just the right angel, so I might as well leave it!

 

[LauraMG]

And I just read the other post and realized you weren't talking about my mantis' leg. Now I feel idiotic....

And I say leave the leg!

For the same reasons I left Zorak's leg, you never know what angel they'll climb into...

 

[sbugir]

Zorak from MedEvil? Sorry, very off topic. NVM that's Zarok. Zorak is the cartoon .

 

[LauraMG]

Ha! Yes, the cartoon, because Space Ghost rocked my world