weird mantis?

C

conway

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
175
hi all i got a Hierodula parviceps and it has *shed* into its last..its developed wings and is about 9.5cm long..but i checked in the tank for the old skin..but it wasnt there!..the only explanation so far is that it ate it..but mantis are cannibals..why would it eat its shed skin? =D :? its really confusing and i wanted the skin as it turnt to adult...oh well..lets just hope i can tell wether its male or female..lol
 
N

Navaros

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 23, 2003
Messages
1,614
That's a nice mantis, don't think we have them in the US. Sexing it shouldn't be too hard. :)
 
Steven

Steven

pede-a-holic
Old Timer
Joined
Feb 18, 2003
Messages
4,022
were there crickets left in the tank ???,...
cause i had cases where crickets ate the old skin,...

crickets shouldn't be in the tank when the mantis is gonna molt but sometimes the mantis surprises me with molting :rolleyes: :D
 
Wade

Wade

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 16, 2002
Messages
2,929
There's not much to mantid exuvia, it might look like a dried bit of grass or something and be overlooked. They're nothing like tarantula's molted exoskeleton which is much more obvious.

Wade
 
C

conway

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
175
ok thanx ill look for some *grass* lol but yes there were crickets in the tank..i didnt knowe it was coming up for a shed..i bought it about a month ago..a little less so i didnt know when it was gonna shed..:confused:
 
Wade

Wade

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 16, 2002
Messages
2,929
Mantids live fast. Most species go from less than half an inch to adulthood in a matter of months. This means frequent molts. One of the more difficult aspects of keeping them is keeping anything from interfearing with molts. Live feeders can kill a molting mantid, but mantids also need alot to eat. Makes it kinda tricky!

Wade
 
C

conway

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 8, 2003
Messages
175
ok i found a *skin* lol i pulled out the fake plant and on the botton was the thingys..:p lol ..ahh the boxer arms..wotever and about 1 whole leg..and 2 or 3 half ones..thats about it..the rest are probably buied or have been eaten..so i just threw it away..oh well..my mum said no more tarantulas but i can get a few more mantids
 
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