I have used this method with every mantis I have ever kept. Not saying it doesn't happen but I think if that caused issues it would have been apparent by now. I have a mismolt every now and then like everybody however these are just different in the way that they tend to get stuck at the middle of the back legs. Out of six nymphs three have molted with this issue.
Texas Unicorn Issue
- Thread starter Rick
- Start date
Help Support Mantidforum:
Peter Clausen
Well-known member
I use paper towel almost exclusively for mantises of all sizes. I have problems when I use screens made from plastic. The fibrous texture of paper towels seems best. I usually use a piece that covers one side and then the bottom (sort of an L shape). This makes cleaning really easy too. Old towel out, new towel in! Consequently, most of my mantids molt on the side of the container. I occasionally experience mismolts, but I usually attribute them to humidity issues (hard to watch every mantis, ever day). The L shape also helps them to have textured surfaces both below and above their chosen molting point. I also try to pinch the upper lip of the paper towel between the container and its lid.
Not the best way, necessarily, but it works for my mantises. I do think humidity levels are different in every home and even perhaps during different parts of the day. We can give 30 days of attention to our mantids and then neglect them one day and suddenly they're in the middle of a mismolt!
Peter
Not the best way, necessarily, but it works for my mantises. I do think humidity levels are different in every home and even perhaps during different parts of the day. We can give 30 days of attention to our mantids and then neglect them one day and suddenly they're in the middle of a mismolt!
Peter
Last edited by a moderator:
I get what you're saying Rick. It's more like a condition of heredity than environment. I had a batch of Chinese and out of six, three got stuck in their exoskeleton and exploded. Now, that happens once in a while but not HALF of the time! But that's the way it happened, no change in environmental conditions or diet. That particular batch had the squiggle leg moult thing too. I don't know what the deal was with them, but I know it was something and it wasn't anything I was or was not doing.
I think that this really might be about humidity being too low - today one of my females mismoulted, her wings did not form well. I think I will increase humidity a bit, besides, they love to drink directly from the droplet, so I will be misting the enclosures once every 2-4 days.
But so far it ain't bad - two females and one male moulted with no problems in dry conditions - the rest should follow up soon.
But so far it ain't bad - two females and one male moulted with no problems in dry conditions - the rest should follow up soon.
