mantis dying or molting?? help!

[sabazerehi]

my peacock mantis has been going through all the stages right before a molt, however, he's about 4in long and it's been a little over two weeks. tonight i came home and found him lying on his back out in the open but still moving. parameters are all good, everything zero, ph 8.4, salinity 1.023. is he molting or is he dying, and if he's dying is there anything i can do? thanks so much, i would hate to lose him!

 

[helipilot]

Wow, I've never heard of one molting in the open. Sorry to say, it sounds like what everyone calls the "death curl". It is caused by many things like stress, improper acclimation, water problems etc. How long have you had your mantis? It sounds like you are on top of your water perimeters. I think about all you can do is turn out the lights and TOTALLY leave it alone and hope for the best. Good luck, I hope it comes around.

 

[sabazerehi]

well he's dead now. that's what i did last night turned off the lights and covered the tank, i've had him about 3 months. i think it was stress. we're doing construction around where he lives but i didn't think it would really bother him. should i take him out of the tank? i don't really know what to do now

 

[helipilot]

Ah man, what a bummer. I am sorry for your loss. I think I would remove him, do a complete water change and get another one. This hobby is one great learning opportunity. I've had most of my mantis for over a year. Don't give up. You'll get it right!

 

[sabazerehi]

i already have my next one in mind but i haven't yet seen one like gregory (my mantis). thanks for the pick up. i'm going to go take him out now.