My female ghost mantis is acting strange. She is restless and seems to be kind of dragging herself around with her front legs. I took her out to get a better look and she just seems uncoordinated. She just fell to the bottom of the tank and everything except her front half seems limp. She has been eating and acting normally. It's hard to explain really. The male in the other side of the divided tank seems fine. Not sure what instar they are but a couple molts from adult is all I know.
Problems with ghost mantis
- Thread starter Rick
- Start date
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Im not completly sure but i think i have heard of this before
Sometimes the mantid can fall from the top of their cage and if they do not land correctly can become paralyzed. At least thats what it sounds like to me but hey
im not expert
JRG
Sometimes the mantid can fall from the top of their cage and if they do not land correctly can become paralyzed. At least thats what it sounds like to me but hey
im not expert
JRG
Andrew
Well-known member
I have heard of this happening to a lot of people that keep phasmids, if they fall the wrong way they may become paralyzed. Just be grateful that your mantis isnt completely paralyzed. Maybe the paralysis will go away once it molts, if it is able to molt without problems.
Good luck with her.
Thanks,
Andrew
Update! Seems about every few days this mantis will loose some control of her hind legs and eventually will end up falling to the bottom of the tank and just lay on her back. Then the next day she will be fine only to repeat the cycle again a few days later. I am at a loss as to what this could be. The male in the other side of the tank is fine.
Hopefully this isn't the case with yours, but a few years back one of my female adult ghosts had this same behavior. It went on for about 3 weeks and one day I found her dead and have no clue what was going on. Good luck!
Max
Active member
I Need Help Too! (Rick, Most Times People That Sell Ghosts Are From Europe! But That Wont Be A Problem For You.....Lucky.... :wink: ) Is It Okay To House Ghosts In Like A Very Big Snap Close Lid Salad Container? Gotta Earn Money For A Tank So Temporary Housing......
Rick,
When you take her out and hold her right side up on your hand, what does her abdomen do? Does it stand straight up like normal? Or does it tilt or fall back to yout hand?
Shake her enclosure gently, and watch to what degree the abdomen sways. Ghosts have a condition where they lose control of the abdomen, have symptoms as you describe, and ultimately, die. I'm not 100% what causes this, but its nearly always in L4-subadults and nearly always males, or green/very light tan colored females.
I've got a few theories on this, but nothing has worked out so far. It should not affect your other mantids.
When you take her out and hold her right side up on your hand, what does her abdomen do? Does it stand straight up like normal? Or does it tilt or fall back to yout hand?
Shake her enclosure gently, and watch to what degree the abdomen sways. Ghosts have a condition where they lose control of the abdomen, have symptoms as you describe, and ultimately, die. I'm not 100% what causes this, but its nearly always in L4-subadults and nearly always males, or green/very light tan colored females.
I've got a few theories on this, but nothing has worked out so far. It should not affect your other mantids.
Hmm sounds about right Leah. About every three days she does it. I just got home and though she was dead. She was laying on her back. I picked her up and she started to move around a bit. She was pretty much just limp with only her front legs and head moving. I put her back on the lid and she is just hanging there mostly limp. When I tap the side she moves a little but just does not look normal.
Max
Active member
Awwaz.....My Ghost Female Is Doing That Now Except Only Her Abodmen Moves........She Doesnt Even Drag Herself Around And When I Touch Her, She Just Tips Over......
francisco
Well-known member
Hello All,
I just lost two adults, a male and a female.
I hope the others don't get that.
regards
Fco T.
I just lost two adults, a male and a female.
I hope the others don't get that.
regards
Fco T.
Bummer!!!
So female ghost seems to have higher fatality rate?
So female ghost seems to have higher fatality rate?
Max
Active member
Well, My Female Ghost Seems To Have Recovered......And Hopefully It Wont Do That Again 
Did she molt Max? Yeah lets hope she grow up to adult for you.... can't afford to lose the female again eh!
