RIP Domenic

[Graceface]

Domenic was my favorite male Orchid mantis, and I had to put him in the freezer yesterday. He was an old man, having molted to adult 11/7. Must've been 100 in mantis years! 

He had lost 2 back legs from age over the last month, but has been eating and hanging on this whole time like a champ. Yesterday, I found him on the floor of his enclosure. His back 2 remaining legs were not functioning well anymore; he seemed to have lost coordination and couldn't stand. Dom was still trying to fight for life: he grabbed onto a BBF and wouldn't let go, even though he couldn't eat it (we tried). Same with the Q-tip of honey water, clamped on with his raptorials and wouldn't let go even though he was drifting in and out of consciousness 

I gave him some honey water and held him in my hand for awhile to comfort him before sending him to the great terrarium in the sky

RIP old man Domenic. I'll miss you

 

[MantisGirl13]

Sorry you lost him 

He lived quite a long time for a male, so you must be doing something right!

- MantisGirl13

 

[hysteresis]

My boss' name is Dom.  Just sayin'.

RIP ol' man. 

 

[Graceface]

Yes, Domenic taught me so much about how to care for males. He was a champ and I only wish Xena had been receptive to mating with him.

Sucks that I had no other females to breed him with during his adult life, the timing was just off for him. I lost my adult females when he matured, Xena wouldn't make a connection, and he was just too old to hang on for my current lot of females to mature. I have more males, but none of them are Domenic, lol. 

Thanks @MantisGirl13 and @hysteresis

 

[hysteresis]

We stand with you.

 

[hibiscusmile]

It is always hard to let them go. People sometimes tell us we are stupid for caring for a bug, but we know we grow attached to them. Anyone on here remember my girl who had no front arms? She is my background on my laptop, still laugh when I look at it and what she did. She was quite a great mantis example of how they are.

 

[Graceface]

My boss' name is Dom.  Just sayin'.

RIP ol' man. 

I named him for Domenic Toretto from the Fast and the Furious franchise I had a Brian and a Letty, too! 

 

[hysteresis]

My boss' name is Dom.  Just sayin'.

Boss Dom could use a trip to the freezer.

 

[Mantis Lady]

Sorry for your loss. Domenic had a good life...

 

[River Dane]

So sorry for your loss. It sounds like you did the right thing. He lived a very full life for a little man, so his rest is well earned.

 

[5eyesUK]

Aww what a moving story about Dom, such a fighter ❤.... so sorry for your loss