Molting question

[dbrooks1440]

Received a mantis a few weeks ago - now residing in a 20g with a few damsels. I allowed him to gorge on the hermits that were in the tank - and got a little behind on the feeding schedule. I put a few snails in with him before leaving town for a week - didn't touch them.

FF to today: I chucked 15 hermits in the tank on Monday - no sign of the beast. On Tuesday, I turned over all the rocks looking for him - nothing.

THEN, I noticed him in the intake siphon of my closed loop. He's not getting sucked into the pump, but just sitting there. The holes that are drilled into the intake are apparently just big enough to let him get in (obviously), but he may be trapped, or worse.

To the point: is he dead, or possibly molting? I have rattled the siphon a few times, but get no response. Do they go into torpor when molting? If I JAB HIM WITH A STICK, (sorry) will he "wake up" (assuming he's not dead)?

Why don't I just dis-assemble the siphon...no-can-do. All the parts are welded in place with plumbers glue.

Any thoughts?

DB in SD

 

[Crawling68]

I say turn the closed loop off, and gently nudge to see if its him or not.

 

[dbrooks1440]

Oh - it's definitely him.

I guess my "real" question is: Do they go into torpor when molting? If they do - then nothing will wake them up. If they do NOT go into torpor, them a quick poke should tell the tale.

DB

 

[Crawling68]

Yetserday when i got home, Samus was in the middle of his molting. His burrow is actually vertical, under a rock. I looked under, and saw his old skin laying there, then a arm fell out of the hole. Slowly but surely parts kept raining down, as he was actively removing the old skin.

 

[Gonodactylus]

Stomatopods usually hold up for days or even weeks when molting, but they are quite capable of moving even in the minutes right around when the exoskeleton is shed. They do not become immobile.

Roy