Reptile & Amphibian Forums

One of my largest favotire mantids just had a very bad molt. He was stuck in it at first. In the end he lost a leg and the two back legs are all twisted. Will he make it to his next molt? will he be ok??? I am really worried about him. I tried to feed him but hes not interested. Poor thing is at the bottom crippled. =(

If it can hang upside down and catch prey or hold prey than there is hope, otherwise you should stick it in the freezer to euthanize(sp?) it.

Oh man thats not what5 I wanted to hear! It can still catch prey, but its missing a leg and the back legs are twisted. =(

He may be able to make it. If he can catch his food he may be ok. I had one that had the same problem and a few days later he was able to get back onto the screen lid. The next molt he came out normal.

He can now climb to the top and hang upside down on only his one middle leg. The two back legs are still twisted and are not really of any use. He took a mealworm today with no problems. I hope he will be okay!

Sounds exactly like a mantis I have. Once he could take food he was ok. On his next shed he was back to normal.

Thats a big relief. Im glad to hear that. He hasnt caught a cricket yet but is stalking them like crazy. He has finished a whole mealworm though. I think he will make it. Thanx for everything

UPDATE: The mantid is doing absolutely GREAT! It climbs, hang upside down, eats, and everything like normal. It stalks crickets but doesnt seem to want to catch them so I usually cut a piece of a cricket or mealworm off to let the insides drip out, and let the mantid get a taste of it, then it will automaticaly grab it. It has not molt yet and is still eating like a champ so I think it will be a while before this little guy is back to normal. Thanx for all ur advice and help.
BTW out of the few mantids I got left, this one is the only one thats very dark, brown. Even before this incident. Is it because the stick I have in there is a brown color and its blending in? The others have green sticks and are green themselves. Most are the same size as this one. Thanx =D

It could be the stick. What species of mantis do you have? P. Wahlbergii's are able to change color like that.

-Andrew

Im not sure. I think they are chinese mantids because of the shape of the ooth they hatched from. This ooth was found in Northwest Missouri and mailed to me in NY by a good friend. The others look like chinese mantids, but this one is very dark and brown. Even after his molts.

Well, chinese mantids can be brown, green, or a mix of the both. It could just be a coincedence(spelling?).

-Andrew