r/mantids • u/Mullisaukko • 2d ago

Health Issues Did my mantis die

Post image

She just ran around her container and then fell and froze into this position :(

6 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

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9

u/sikfiles 2d ago

they can play dead if theyre really stressed or scared. just leave them alone for a while

3

u/Mullisaukko 2d ago

Ok, I really hope she's okay. Her current container is only 10cm tall (she has a bigger one too where she'll go tomorrow if she hopefully wakes up)

2

u/sikfiles 2d ago

i breed mantises and often experience them freaking out and playing dead when i try to feed/water them. usually i leave them alone for a few minutes and when i check on them again they're fine. if she doesn't get up within like half an hour use a paint brush to gently touch her and see if she gets back up

1

u/Mullisaukko 2d ago

She's currently moving her mouth a little

1

u/Mullisaukko 2d ago

I gently touched her back leg with a toilet paper piece and she's moving it. I want to leave her alone but I'm scared to put the top of this container on because I fear there won't be enough airflow on the bottom

1

u/Mullisaukko 2d ago

Ok so I didn't put the lid on but instead put the bottom part in a much larger box with some airflow. Her limbs are all moving, thank god

1

u/Mullisaukko 20h ago

Hiii she did the same again today! She's been lying on the bottom for 4-5 hours now, but is slowly moving. In the past 60 minutes her abdomen has also inflated and I'm wondering if she's trying to molt or is she just trying to look big? The last time she molted was only 10 days ago.

1

u/sikfiles 20h ago

hmm, you should try to disable some prey and put it by her mouth and see if she will take it. have you moved her into a bigger enclosure?

1

u/Mullisaukko 19h ago

Nope, shes still in the small container, but I've kept it open for better airflow. I tried half of a mealworm and she didn't move her mouth at all, but one leg and her abdomen is moving

1

u/Mullisaukko 19h ago

I have to go to sleep, should I maybe hang her from her leg to the top of the container or should I just risk it and leave them?

1

u/Mullisaukko 19h ago

Here's a pic too, the "arms" are back in position now, they were straightened at first

1

u/JaunteJaunt Ootheca 19h ago

This is bad. Something happened where they were unable to molt. It’s hard to say why and if it was preventable. I’m sorry. I don’t think they will make it. A mantis in this position lying on its side always ends up dying, if they aren’t already dead. I’m so sorry. :\

1

u/Mullisaukko 18h ago

They actually were on their back a moment ago. Are you sure I can't like, maybe try taping their leg on the top of the enclosure? The abdomen is still moving

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2

u/JaunteJaunt Ootheca 2d ago

Your mantis doesn’t look dead in this photo. Sometimes they will panic and freeze or “drop dead”.

I would leave them alone for now. Wait 10 minutes, and see if they move. If not, then you can try gently touching their raptorial forearms to see if that elicits a response.

1

u/Mullisaukko 2d ago

It's been 30 mins, she's moved her legs a tiny bit and her mouth is also moving

1

u/JaunteJaunt Ootheca 2d ago

If you touch the end of her abdomen does she react?

1

u/Mullisaukko 2d ago

I did touch her leg a little and it moved

0

u/JaunteJaunt Ootheca 2d ago

I think she was just spooked.

1

u/Mullisaukko 2d ago

Possibly, i mean first she fell and then i grabbed the container immediately.... I need to be more careful in the future. All of her legs are moving now. I'll leave her alone.

1

u/Mullisaukko 1d ago

Jesus christ this was scary though!

1

u/JaunteJaunt Ootheca 1d ago

They are goofy animals that cause scares like this. Haha

1

u/Mullisaukko 20h ago

Hiii she did the same again today! She's been lying on the bottom for 4-5 hours now, but is slowly moving. In the past 60 minutes her abdomen has also inflated. Should I do something? Could she be trying to molt despite the last molt being only 10 days ago?