Rubbed Eye Syndrome

[JoeCapricorn]

So, my mantises are growing up... to the point where they are probably outgrowing their containers. One container is smaller than the other three, and held Meek. Since Meek might've been close to molting I switched him with the already molted to L5 Angel. Angel fits alright, but he likes to look at me with his face pressed against the glass. Looking at his eyes from a certain angle, I see white dots on both of his eyes. Is this rubbed eye syndrome?

The same with Fortune to a lesser extent, this appearance of these white dots is worrying but not overly distressing me - both Angel and Fortune feed just fine. Kit and Meek show no sign of these white dots. Neither tend to hang out near the edge of the container, while Fortune seems to be the jumpy one and constantly tries to catch whatever is reflecting against the container and like Angel is always trying to walk through the container wall.

So, my question, aside from if this is rubbed eye syndrome, is will this go away when they molt to L6? Or by L7? Does it fix in one molt or in more than one molt?

They are Sphodromantis centralis, and as far as I know they are all male. How many molts do they have to go before adulthood?

 

[JoeCapricorn]

I'd also like to add that I try to let Angel out of his cramped space as much as possible, let him roam around on my desk. Soon they'll be big enough where I can let them roam around more often, but right now just for short periods of time under heavy supervision. Would this help reduce the progression of this supposed rubbed eye syndrome? Or won't it matter?

 

[Emile.Wilson]

uhhh rubbed eye syndrome?

 

[Opivy]

I've only been on here a few months, but i have the same question too-

What's dat?

 

[Rick]

What is 'rubbed eye syndrome?'. If you mean the black spots, not sure if that is caused by rubbing. I've seen it on wild mantis before too.

 

[ismart]

If i'm understanding you correctly? If it does keep smashing/rubbing it's face against the container any visable damage to the eyes will be seen in the next moult, not now. I have had this problem with chinese mantids in the past. Some have bleed out and died through there eyes after moulting. Mind you though, it would have to rub, and smack it's head quite a bit for this to happen. Maybe you should find a way to frost your containers so they are not see through, or place them in larger containers, so there not rubbing there faces against the sides of the containers trying to get out.

 

[JoeCapricorn]

I got them bigger containers! I also got them their first crickets.

Fortune was the first to take down a cricket, still munching on it. He'll be good and full for the next few days!