Hi. I have a cat mantis who has been refusing food. I try to feed her but she never grabs it herself. Today I noticed that it appeared she has eaten the sticky parts off of her two front legs and one raptor claw. Is there anything I can do to make her more comfortable? I was thinking about putting a soft material in her container so she can move better but I'm not sure what to do.
Self Cannibalism, Refusing to eat
- Thread starter GayJerk
- Start date
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Update: I got her to eat (yay!) I found a method that works so she grabs it herself. (I break the head off of a meal beetle and hold it to her mouth until she starts biting on it, then I let go so the bug dangles from her mouth and eventually she grabs it)
I'm still concerned about her legs missing the adhesive ends.. Anything I can do??
I'm still concerned about her legs missing the adhesive ends.. Anything I can do??
izbiggs
Well-known member
@GayJerk I'm glad she ate!! 
i think providing her with some more sticks that she can wrap her limbs around rather than just rely on her sticky pads would help her! Also, I think that your idea of having something soft to walk on would work for her comfort as well. Hopefully she gets them back next molt!
i think providing her with some more sticks that she can wrap her limbs around rather than just rely on her sticky pads would help her! Also, I think that your idea of having something soft to walk on would work for her comfort as well. Hopefully she gets them back next molt! Thanks! Unfortunately she's an adult but I lined the bottom of her enclosure with an old towel and wrapped it around the sticks too and she's hanging almost upside down on them fine! I'll just have to baby her more than my other mantids@GayJerk I'm glad she ate!!
I would give her more time to see if her condition improves from continued feeding, but sadly with such mantids it isn't something that typically gets better. Regarding euthanizing her that is a step you will have to decide, if she is able to move and eat I would let her be and hope her condition improves in the meantime.
The cause of self-mutilation usually is a infection, damaged or trapped legs, and such. I've read where a few seemed to be possessed and stopped at nothing short of mutilating anything they could reach - with one mantid only having two stumps of legs left.
See the thread here...
Ok, thank you for replying. I think her legs might've been getting caught in the mesh lid so I put a paper towel between the enclosure and the mesh. She's still not eating and refusing prey. All she does is ignore it completely... I will give her some time and see what happens
