Tenodera weakness?

[CutieCrawlersArt]

I apologize in advance if there's been a thread like this one recently, but I was super worried about my boy. My Chinese mantis just molted a day or two ago into what I guess was his pre-subadult instar and is having some trouble. He's so long and lanky, and he drags himself around, his legs look pretty weak as far as holding himself up. His two back legs were slightly malformed when he hardened (they have a larger curve to them, mostly on the left leg, which raises up into the air randomly sometimes), but he is still able to cling upside down with them easily. 

So far, he looks and acts mostly normal. Upside down, you could barely tell anything's wrong. But when he's right side up, he looks weak as far as his legs go. He's still very alert and jitters sometimes in his movements, and the poor thing does his best to crawl around. He still eats (I just fed him a beheaded superworm).

He isn't super full and has no concerning marks/black spots, doesn't smell strange or anything. I'm just hoping he can make it to his next molt and fix his back legs.

 

[CosbyArt]

Sounds like a typical molting issue, a minor mismolt. If the mantid is still eating and acting fine, it will take care of it when it molts again.

Without a photo though it is impossible to judge the amount of deformity. If the deformity, the curvature in the legs is at extreme angles or anything, it can actually cause the mantid to be trapped and unable to pull itself free of the next molt. Sadly if that happens it will die, or sometimes they will have old exoskeleton dry on their new limbs if they can pull free, causing further issues and the next molt will be unsuccessful. Sometimes though if it is bad enough molt issue I've actually had a few mantids bite off their own leg, which solved the issue.

 

[CutieCrawlersArt]

Yeah. His legs aren't as horrible as what you described and I didn't see the exoskeleton dragging around on him so that's good. His legs are just a little bowed and yeah, he's having a hard time controlling them, and keeping a grip with any of his legs.

Here's some photos while he's eating. He's not supporting himself up at all, but yeah, he's definitely eating.

 

[CutieCrawlersArt]

Just a little update.

He's doing a lot better and can move around and catch food now. His legs seemed to have hardened (but he has a bit of pinching at the bases, so he doesn't use them as well as he could). So glad he looks like he's gonna make it. TuT

 

[CosbyArt]

Just a little update.

He's doing a lot better and can move around and catch food now. His legs seemed to have hardened (but he has a bit of pinching at the bases, so he doesn't use them as well as he could). So glad he looks like he's gonna make it. TuT

Glad to hear he is doing much better. It is amazing how well they can adapt in such cases so quickly. Just keep and eye on him and give him care when feeding, and he should recover in the next molt.

It seems from the lid he is housed in deli cup, likely a 32 ounce? If so you should transfer him to a larger habitat before his next molt. As they grow 4" (9 cm) (sometimes more) it would be recommended that the next habitat would be at least twice the size, at 8" tall or larger, to ensure your mantid can pull free from it's old exoskeleton without hitting the bottom while handing from the lid. I had a shorter habitat and my Chinese mantid survived, but it's body was curved to one side where it laid on the bottom briefly.

 

[CutieCrawlersArt]

Thanks! And he's actually in a pretty large plastic tank habitat (about 8" tall), but it might have been some of the foliage in there (I tried to keep it clear mostly of where he hangs) but I might end up taking it out entirely for his next molt. I appreciate the info though, definitely! Molting is definitely the most nervewracking part of keeping these guys, for me.

 

[CosbyArt]

Thanks! And he's actually in a pretty large plastic tank habitat (about 8" tall), but it might have been some of the foliage in there (I tried to keep it clear mostly of where he hangs) but I might end up taking it out entirely for his next molt. I appreciate the info though, definitely! Molting is definitely the most nervewracking part of keeping these guys, for me.

Your welcome. Yeah molting can be a worry for anyone to some extent still - as it can be catastrophic if something goes wrong. Even with the proper care and habitat/molting room, they can still loose their footing and fall.

Sounds good, glad to see you are thinking ahead. Best of luck to you.

 

[CutieCrawlersArt]

Yeah, just wanna give these guys a long, happy life. Good luck to you as well!