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Gr8reptileiseli · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 10

Ok my mantis has been trapped in his half shed for about 2 days and he is moving around but cant seem to get out. He is an arizonian unicorn mantis. And I provided humidity for about two hours by sticking him in the bathroom and turning it into a steam room. Helped a little. I also sprayed a lot in the cage.
But I think he is gonna sooner starve to death then break out, he seems really stuck. So I called up the pet store and they told me to try and get the dead skin off with tweezers.
So there are my options:
Risk tearing him apart as I get the skin off with the tweezers
OR
Risk him dying of starvation slowly and wait it out.

Celeste · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 5:14 pm Post subject:

Wow, that's a tough one... I'm surprised he survived for two days like that.

If it was me, I'd stick with really high humidity (but then you risk fungus, which can kill him, too).

If you feel like you can cut him out without tearing him apart, give it a try. But that would be my absolute last resort...

How big is he? Is this his final (adult) molt? Or does he have more to go? The reason I ask is because if he has more molts to go before he reaches adult, he might regenerate any limbs lost in the process of you cutting him out in his next molt...
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a1_collection · Joined: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 294 Location: Walnut California

Get very small scissors preferably dissecting ones and cut right down the middle from the head of the skin to the lower part without hitting the mantis. I have done this once and it worked beautifully. it was my last resort also.

Best of luck to you.
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Gr8reptileiseli · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 10

I tried with the tweezers and it..... It's legs aren't working, it was horrible. It freaked out and started making a terrible noise. It is now laying on the floor of it's cage.
Still alive, I have a tough one, and all it can do is twitch and move its arms. What do I do to end it's suffering painlessly? Sad

balam · Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 9:43 pm Post subject:

I have read that a humane way of euthanizing inverts is to stick them in the freezer.
Sorry to hear you may have to do this, remember this is also a last resort option, once you know he/she will not make it.
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God does not play at dice AE

lizmotobike · Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 7:42 pm Post subject:

i am sorry i did not see this earlier. i wonder if just using something small like a twisted corner of a paper towel to paint (or dab) water (or glycerin) on it would of helped?

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