Molting Hissers???

[IguanaMama]

I'm a little obsessed with my hissers. Alright all my roaches. OK OK all my inverts, that's what I'm doing here.

Anyway, I was checking on my hissers and I noticed that one of the males wasn't moving. I flipped him over and he didn't struggle, but his legs wiggled a bit. He's about two inches, not small, but not full grown either. Now, he and a few others look like they are bursting at the seams, very fat. It finally dawned on me that ok, maybe it's just molting time, so I gently placed him in a quiet spot and let him be. This was late yesterday afternoon. Still no molted hissers, nor are there any dead hissers. How long is the "pre-molt" period. Is he dying or just waiting to molt? I googled, but didn't find anything. I am going to the White Plains Reptile Expo this weekend where I expect to see Roachman and I assume he will have his book for sale, which I will get and even ask to have him sign hahahahaha, but until then, I am depending on you guys for HELP!!!! Thanks!
Jodi

 

[bugmankeith]

Sometimes I have seen roaches ready to molt, and they are unable to. after 3 or 4 days they are unable to walk, and die from being unable to molt. I dont know what causes this, could be genetic, not all young survive for many reasons.

 

[iturnrocks]

I dont know if it works the same as reptiles, but perhaps increasing the humidity would help soften the exoskeleton.

 

[bugmankeith]

That could work if you havent done it already. In my experience some who died did so even though I provided ample humidity and alot of places to molt without being disturbed. Try the extra humidity first, mabye put in a shallow water dish too.

 

[IguanaMama]

I have already been keeping the humidity pretty high and I sprinkled water gel crystals around. Nothing has really changed, they're all just hanging around. It's in the high 80's here and I haven't turned on the air conditioner so they'd be happy, I'm sweating like a pig and I smell. I think I'm taking this too far. Maybe I'll just move them into a closet, and cool off the apartment already.

 

[bugmankeith]

I guess just keep waiting, mabye you'll get lucky and some will molt.

When my room got too hot I just moved my roaches to the warm basement (perfect in the summer), but if your in an apartment I dont know if you could do that. Will an air conditioner kill them, being they are a tropical species?

 

[IguanaMama]

hahahahaha!!! Well I checked on them early this morning and still no molts and no dead ones but lots and lots of little white babies!!!! They have since darkened. I'm a grandmama!

 

[bugmankeith]

Congratulations!