Raptorial Question

[dtuck91]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone here has had or knows if the raptorial spikes can be damaged by striking a hard object(walls of an enclosure)? Like when they go to strike their prey but miss and slightly tap the wall.

 

[Digger]

dtuck,

My experience has been: if the struck surface is smooth (plastic, porcelin, glass, etc.) there shouldn't be a problem. The raptorials just glance off.

Striking a surface where the spines can get caught (screen, stucco, etc), might cause some structural distress, but personally, I've never seen a problem. In that case, more damage might come from stress and the attempt to yank her legs out of the screen, rather than damage from the blow of the legs themselves.

The wall of your enclosure is smooth (except if you have a climbing screen) and should pose absolutely no problem. That's one issue I wouldn't worry about.

 

[dtuck91]

dtuck,

My experience has been: if the struck surface is smooth (plastic, porcelin, glass, etc.) there shouldn't be a problem. The raptorials just glance off.

Striking a surface where the spines can get caught (screen, stucco, etc), might cause some structural distress, but personally, I've never seen a problem. In that case, more damage might come from stress and the attempt to yank her legs out of the screen, rather than damage from the blow of the legs themselves.

The wall of your enclosure is smooth (except if you have a climbing screen) and should pose absolutely no problem. That's one issue I wouldn't worry about.

Cool, and thanks for the reply!

 

[Krissim Klaw]

I've never seen damage to the spines even when grabbing something hard. The longer spines that stick out in the centers of their claws even have give to them to help prevent breakage. Worse case scenario and one did break it would do little to effect the mantis or their future hunting endeavors.

 

[D_Hemptress]

I've never seen damage to the spines even when grabbing something hard. The longer spines that stick out in the centers of their claws even have give to them to help prevent breakage. Worse case scenario and one did break it would do little to effect the mantis or their future hunting endeavors.

both of Elinor's broke off somehow and it has no effect on her performance

Hey, I was wondering if anyone here has had or knows if the raptorial spikes can be damaged by striking a hard object(walls of an enclosure)? Like when they go to strike their prey but miss and slightly tap the wall.

 

[dtuck91]

both of Elinor's broke off somehow and it has no effect on her performance

Nice, thanks for the reply.