What just Happened

[novaz]

As is my usual routine since starting to keep Mantis I went in and misted and fed all my Mantis and after going back and checking all lids were secure I saw my L4 chinese was lying dead on the bottom of container where a couple of minutes previous he was happily chomping on some flies ,it looked almost as though though he was standing to attention and then just fell over as all his legs were laying straight along side his body,I had grown him on from a nymph and I realise death happens but what might have caused it so quickly in such a relativly benign environment, sure is a shame as i have an L4 female on its way from Peter in the hope i was going to breed them.

Roy

 

[lancaster1313]

Are you sure it is dead? I have seen a couple of my mantids drop and do a stick impression. I haven't been keeping mantids long, but I have never seen one suddenly die. My late mantids moved slightly for a while while dying. My Chinese will lay thier legs straight along thier bodies when making like a stick.

 

[ismart]

Sounds more like it's playing dead! Don't go flushing it just yet!

 

[Rick]

I've never seen chinese play dead. If it hasn't started moving again in a couple mins it is probably dead. I have never seen a mantis perfectly fine one second and dead the next.

 

[ismart]

I ment to say pretending to be a stick. I just wanted to post something real quick, so he does not possibly toss it out right away! Chinese mantids don't play dead.

 

[Seattle79]

I'm sorry Royz. That is strange. The only thing I can think of is that maybe you had some sort of poison or toxin on your hands and didn't realize it. I just don't know.

-Kevin

 

[LauraMG]

That is strange! My female will drop and lay there for a while looking like she is dead, but I don't think she quite right in the head.... :tt2:

 

[novaz]

Thanks for the replies but he was for sure gone i lifted him up and tried to move his limbs with a toothpick but nothing happened anyway Death is a part of life so we move on.

Thanks also for the tip on hands i always do wash them prior to touching the containers and use a mild skin soap as i have heard of that being a problem.

Roy

 

[Mars1962]

I wonder if one of the flies caused him a problem, like choking trying to eat it too quickly. They are such complicated creatures -- a balance of super-fighter and delicate beauty. *sigh*

 

[angelofdeathzz]

I wonder if one of the flies caused him a problem, like choking trying to eat it too quickly. They are such complicated creatures -- a balance of super-fighter and delicate beauty. *sigh*

yeah , did you try the Heimlich maneuver :wacko: just a joke,sorry about the loss...