Stuck in molt before even molting

[Ben10101]

I got a banded flower mantis that was in pre-molt for a whole week now, few days ago it keep acting like its about to molt, but it still hasn't.

It's been acting weak with its hind legs hanging down and walking with only its front legs. I hear that they can get stuck in their old molt if they molt too late and just die, is that true? What can cause that?

 

[MantisGirl13]

Interesting. Is it still alive?

 I have had mantids die from the 'Peter Pan Syndrome' (I don't wanna grow up) but that usually takes a much longer period of time than a week.

How long has it been since its last molt? Meal? What is its instar? We need more info please. Maybe a pic? 

- MantisGirl13

 

[Ben10101]

It's a sub adult, it molted in 19th February, and its eaten since last week.

 

[River Dane]

I have a male truncata that became a subadult on Jan 4, and didn’t molt to adult until March 7. He was looking like he was in pre-molt for 2-3 weeks. Turns out, all I had to do was put him under a hot lamp, and he molted less than three hours later.

So it could be humidity or temperature. It might also help if you leave the mantis alone for a little while, that might help her feel safer.

 

[Ben10101]

I have a male truncata that became a subadult on Jan 4, and didn’t molt to adult until March 7. He was looking like he was in pre-molt for 2-3 weeks. Turns out, all I had to do was put him under a hot lamp, and he molted less than three hours later.

So it could be humidity or temperature. It might also help if you leave the mantis alone for a little while, that might help her feel safer.

Was it also exhibiting the symptoms mine has? Mine is weak and limp, it wasn't even walking with its hind legs, and instead dragging its body with its front limbs.

 

[River Dane]

Wasn’t as severe as dragging himself around, but he was significantly more sluggish than usual, and once the stick he was hanging on fell, and he barely reacted.

 

[Ben10101]

The joints, tips of reportorial limbs and face had brown spots appear suddenly last week. I think it's just a premolt sign, but still wanna point it out it's something significant

She had also at one point gotten sick from bad food, when it just molted into sub adult, and it was nursed back to health...

 

[MantisGirl13]

Ok. Give it some honey and care for it as if it is going to molt any day. It probably will, but it might not. Keep ups updated!

- MantisGirl13

 

[hysteresis]

I hope she comes around fine and molts out of this.

 

[Ben10101]

Well... too late, she laying on the floor, seemingly on her last breath... bummer ;(

 

[hysteresis]

Well... too late, she laying on the floor, seemingly on her last breath... bummer ;(

Sorry dude.

I was trying to be positive (which im often not).

My personal experience so far is that when a mantis loses use of their back legs and NOT from trauma, the situation is dire.

Again, sorry.

 

[Ben10101]

Sorry dude.

I was trying to be positive (which im often not).

My personal experience so far is that when a mantis loses use of their back legs and NOT from trauma, the situation is dire.

Again, sorry.

It’s fine~ Loses happen, just feeling a little bit bummed out. I just wish I knew what caused it and if it’s something on me and some husbandry that I could have done better for this to be preventable.

 

[MantisGirl13]

I'm sorry. I wish we could understand why they refuse to molt like this!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Graceface]

The joints, tips of reportorial limbs and face had brown spots appear suddenly last week. I think it's just a premolt sign, but still wanna point it out it's something significant

She had also at one point gotten sick from bad food, when it just molted into sub adult, and it was nursed back to health...

Brown spots have always indicated an illness in my experience. Any time I've had brown spots appear on the face and raptorials, it ended badly. I'm sorry for your loss.

Sadly, there isn't much we can do in the way of medicine for a mantis that has contracted an illness. Honey water is usually all I have in the toolbox for a sick mantis

 

[Mantis Lady]

Sorry for your loss @Ben10101

@MantisGirl13Could panther have had 'Peter Pan Syndrome too'?  He didn't want to molt either and he became sluggish the day before he died.

 

[MantisGirl13]

@Little Mantis It is very likely. I have lost chinese, budwings, and Creos to this too.

- MantisGirl13

 

[Ben10101]

She was laying on her bad yesterday and can’t make it... 

I hate to be a downer, but thank goodness her sister molted to adulthood with not issues just today!

 

[MantisGirl13]

Congrats on the molt! 

- MantisGirl13

 

[River Dane]

So sorry to hear about your loss. The downside of such an unusual pet is how little we know about their health. All we can do is try and hope they can figure out the rest. 

Glad you still have her sister, though. Congratulations on the molt, she’s gorgeous!