Need some mantis advice

[ZC]

OK I have a 6" -or so O.S. I have had her from roughly a year and have never had any problems with her.

Now here's the problem I need advice with. She has dug out the entire back corner of her tank and has just been laying there all day upside down. Her color is almost gone, it's just a deep dark brown color. Now I have watched her molt before and she's never done anything like this before, so that's why i'm confused. She is also extremely passive. She will let me literally move her with the feeding stick I use and she will not fight back what so ever!!! She also has been refusing food all week ( like she normally does before a molt)

Any one have any advice as to what's goin on....Dr. Roy???

 

[justinl]

i dunno, but it doesnt sound good. sometimes a mantis will stay out of the burrow in one spot and lay there curled up... this kind of behaviour usually means death is coming.

so waht can you do? dont feed, cut the lights for 24 hours or more (i really suggest 48), and stop checking up on her every five minutes (we're all guilty of it)... at most once a day. you're constant peering and prodding will only stress her more and make recovery unlikely. just give her some downtime. covering the tank with a blanket to block ambient light isnt a bad idea either. just be sure temperature wont get out of hand. test the water and post the results of your tests.

 

[ZC]

Thanks for the advice!