Lucidd
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Jul 13, 2013
- Messages
- 237
Hi,
My brother gave me a praying mantis a couple weeks ago, and things have been fine at first. The mantis had a healthy appetite and adjusted to his new home quite well so I let him roam freely in a room that has little to no traffic. I have been checking on him daily and giving him food and water. He started turning away food and I wasn't sure if he was eating the spiders in the house or if he was molting, until I found him frozen in place on a shade in the window. I have been misting him to help with his molt since, which has been for a few days now.
Today I went to mist him, as normal, but he fell when I did so. He is still moving his legs and mouth parts, so he's still alive. It seems he didn't have a good enough grip? I have read that they have a 75% chance of dying if they fall during their molt, but I am having trouble finding information if there's anything I can do to help him molt after he's lost attachment.
For example, would it be easier for him to be laid on his back or tummy? Or what if I lay him on a ramped bed of twigs? Do his feet need to be in contact with a surface to be able to molt?
Has anyone dealt with this before? I appreciate any advice.
My brother gave me a praying mantis a couple weeks ago, and things have been fine at first. The mantis had a healthy appetite and adjusted to his new home quite well so I let him roam freely in a room that has little to no traffic. I have been checking on him daily and giving him food and water. He started turning away food and I wasn't sure if he was eating the spiders in the house or if he was molting, until I found him frozen in place on a shade in the window. I have been misting him to help with his molt since, which has been for a few days now.
Today I went to mist him, as normal, but he fell when I did so. He is still moving his legs and mouth parts, so he's still alive. It seems he didn't have a good enough grip? I have read that they have a 75% chance of dying if they fall during their molt, but I am having trouble finding information if there's anything I can do to help him molt after he's lost attachment.
For example, would it be easier for him to be laid on his back or tummy? Or what if I lay him on a ramped bed of twigs? Do his feet need to be in contact with a surface to be able to molt?
Has anyone dealt with this before? I appreciate any advice.