Dactyls

[Altpers0na-old]

Do the dactyls ,that are shed at molt (molted at molt, molted when they shed, i know its one of these), rot?

 

[Thurge]

yes. Any of the shead exoskeleton should be removed from the tank to keep it from degrading your water quality. That being said i would give it about a day or so before I removed it because many mantis will eat the shead to reclaim the nutrents that make it up. Dactyls though are so hard they aren't eaten.

 

[Gonodactylus]

To some extent, it depends on the species and size of the animals. Large O. scyllarus never completely consume their dactyls. The same is true of large Lysiosquillina.

 

[Altpers0na-old]

how about out of the tank, dried off..

 

[rwhhunt]

Ive kept the dactyl of my peacocks first molt in my tank from almost two years ago with no degradation

 

[Altpers0na-old]

thats what i meant.

Does it have any color left? or is it just a basicly clear shell?

 

[rwhhunt]

surpisingly well preserved

 

[Altpers0na-old]

great.

I was thinking about a dactyl collection. now im sold.

now to find some....

did i read 500 types of mantis?

 

[Gonodactylus]

The best set of dactyls I have ever seen was a necklace made in Hawaii 25 years ago. The designer selected about 15 pairs of Oratosquilla dactyls graded in size from about 1 - 3 cm, capped the base of each dactyl with silver and strung them like pearls - largest pair pointing in at the center. It was truly spectacular. I wanted to buy it for my wife, but at $600, the price was too steep.

If you ever get to the Bristish Museum, in the section with Micronesian artifacts, they have many weapons (clubs, spears, throwing sticks, boomarangs) edged with large Lysiosquillina maculata and shark teeth.

Roy

 

[Altpers0na-old]

edged weapons? wow

 

[Altpers0na-old]

so, er if anyone wants to donate uneaten molt parts, particularly dactyls and the last tail segment... i will bump your threads when i find them and otherwise be greatfull... and of course cover postage

 

[bump321]

How can you tell when they will shed ? Will they loose there color, kinda fade like a snake ? Any tell tale signs that they will go into hiding soon ?

 

[Gonodactylus]

The usual signs are increased burrow or cavity construction followed by not eating. Some gonodactylids also become more aggressive threatening more.

There is a way to tell precisely where the animal is in the molt cycle, but that requires looking at an antennal scale or pleopod under a microscope. You can acutally see the new cuticle and setae developing and a staging system has be developed.

Roy

 

[bump321]

Thanks Roy

I dont need to know bad enough to get my fingers split open. LOL I will just wait I am sure she will let me know the easy way.

Thanks for your help.