sub adult orchid male help

[rs4guy]

My sub adult orchid male is in bad shape, and I'm not sure why. He can't "grip" anything, and I tried almost every type of surface available. He has very swollen wing buds, and I am sure he has to molt soon, or wil die. He can climb vertically, but can't hang upside down. He will take honey, but no food, which I presume is attributed to his need to molt. Any ideas or experience with this kind of thing? Thanks....

 

[ismart]

That sounds bad! Sometimes mantids do get a bit weak before a molt. If he can not hang upside down, then more than likely he is a goner? This would be a good time to raise the temp, and humidity a bit. Also leave him be. If you mess with him, he will only get weaker. Good luck!

 

[rs4guy]

Im going to try to work his tarsels into a cotton ball and suspend that tonight.... Otherwise I agree Ismart... Shame, he was doing so damn well!

 

[CoolMantid]

Wait!!! I had an indian flower mantis nymph do the same thing, then she molted on the ground and survived with the little help from me! So i recomend keeping him and watching him carefully. Good Luck!!!

 

[rs4guy]

Wildo, thanks for the tips. Was there any disfigurement from the ground molt? I just hope she doesnt pop while Im here at work!

 

[agent A]

i had most of my pseudoharpax ground molt to the subadult stage and they were fine they seemed a bit more tired afterwards but survived and they are almost adult, the female is adult, sometimes they act wierd before molting

once, i thought a creobroter was about to die but the next morning he molted to adult

good luck with him

 

[Precarious]

Definitely keep a close eye on him and assist when the time comes. Once the legs are worked out of the tips of the old skin you can suspend him from the empty portion. Use a small clip, like what you use to close snack foods. You can either hold the clip or hook wire through the hole and suspend.

I would say the chances are extremely slim he would come out of a ground molt able to mate.

 

[rs4guy]

Thanks, my plan is to use a 16oz cup, padded with paper towel floor, and using a cottonball, I will try suspending the orchid from it, and use sticky tak to secure that to the ceiling. Wish me luck! er him luck!

 

[CoolMantid]

She was fine! No disfuguerment! THe may look like they are struggleing cause gravity inst there to help that when I gently help them by pulling the excess skin.

 

[LLCoolJew]

Keep us posted, Josh! Good luck!!!

 

[rs4guy]

Well, he is still alive the next morning. He seems ok, just a bit out of it. I put him in a holding cup (16oz) with paper towel lining the whole inside, and a gauze wrap (good traction for the tarsels) for the ceiling. Keeping the humidity very high, and temps around 75-79F. Only time will tell, he has been pumping his abdomen, so it should be soon.

 

[rs4guy]

He beat all the odds! a 100% successful ground molt, without any of my help, all happened while I was at work!!! He is about 1.5" long, and has a nice set of white wings. I wonder how long til his pink is gone. Thanks for all the help guys and gals!

 

[lunarstorm]

Very cool, glad to hear this!

 

[CoolMantid]

Incredible what they can do on ther own

 

[agent A]

Great to hear!!! Unfortunately my male psedoharpax mismolted and now the search for a fresh adult male begins

Glad we could help you though

Good luck with the pair you are getting

 

[rs4guy]

Thanks!