Stairway To Heaven

[Digger]

Poor Perseus (Hierodula membranacea) hasn't eaten for 16 days straight. His ab is still plump, so I'm figuring there's an internal blockage.

Guess he knows the clock is ticking and believes he's found a stairway to heaven. I've emailed Jimmy Page to see if there were any extra lyrics written for mantids.

 

[agent A]

he looks fine

 

[gripen]

Was he this plump before he stopped eating?

 

[Digger]

he looks fine

I know, Alex. It's absolutely uncanny. But the animal has not taken ANY nourishment in 16 (sixteen) days!! He simply cannot survive if this continues. Unless he's a spirit.

Was he this plump before he stopped eating?

Yes Grip. Looked exactly the same.

 

[gripen]

Interesting. What temps are you keeping him at? He could just have a slow metabolism.

Edit: Can you also get a close shot of the last segment of its abdomen? That would be really helpful!

 

[Digger]

Interesting. What temps are you keeping him at? He could just have a slow metabolism.

Edit: Can you also get a close shot of the last segment of its abdomen? That would be really helpful!

72 - 80 deg F. which is fine for his sp. Have shots of his ab sent to others for review. There is no perceivable blockage or damage at his exit end.

 

[gripen]

The reason I asked for shots of its abdomen is because from those images it looks female.

 

[sally]

The reason I asked for shots of its abdomen is because from those images it looks female.

Ha I was thinking the same thing! I am new but I thought for sure female......

 

[sally]

Is Perseus still pooping?

 

[Malakyoma]

He' significantly smaller than females of the same age. Definitely male

 

[gripen]

He' significantly smaller than females of the same age. Definitely male

Size is not always the best way to judge ***.

 

[Malakyoma]

Size is not always the best way to judge ***.

When he's the same size as all the other males who are not even 2/3rds the size of the females its a pretty good clue. the female subadults are much much larger than the males.

 

[ismart]

That mantis looks fine. You probably just fed it a load before hand.

 

[Digger]

Size is not always the best way to judge ***.

That what she said.

 

[Digger]

That mantis looks fine. You probably just fed it a load before hand.

C'mon, ismart. 16 days without ANY eating. He would have had to have eaten a Buick. Malakyoma (from whom I got Perseus) admits to an over-feed before shipment. However, that will not create over two weeks of anorexia. Admittedly, he looks ok, and that leaves me absolutely befuddled. Either he's a magical mantis, or he's bionic.

 

[Sticky]

You could try giving him/her milk. It has protein as well as other good things in it. My Sticky and others did well it.

 

[ismart]

You will surprised how long some mantids can go without food. Older nymphs, and adults can go pretty long in between feedings. Clearly your mantis is still far from starving. If your so worried? Maybe increase temps to speed up it's metabolism.

 

[Digger]

You could try giving him/her milk. It has protein as well as other good things in it. My Sticky and others did well it.

What a great thought ! I'll try a little warm milk later today. Thanks!

 

[Reptiliatus]

What a great thought ! I'll try a little warm milk later today. Thanks!

A mantis would never ever....ever consume milk in the wild. It's your mantis and you are entitled to do as you wish with it, however are you sure you want to try that? Maybe wait to hear what a few others would recommend before feeding it milk. There are enough humans in the world that can't digest milk, odds are that mantids have a hard time too, to say the least.

-Dayyan