signs of a mantis about to molt?

[sabazerehi]

are they are any signs that might show a mantis is about to molt. i have a 4in peacock mantis and his last molt was around January 1st, from what i've read a mantis his size will molt about every 3-4 months. he's been acting a little strange lately, unless it's my imagination, and i was wondering if that's due to him about to molt and i think i see a line starting to form on his back, i think i read something about that too. thanks for any help!

 

[Thromgar]

You might want to read through the extensive post that is stickied to the top of this forum. Dr. Roy lays it all out in very good detail.

 

[yankeereefer]

Indeed read the sticky -

My peacock displayed a "white stripe" for about about a week or so just prior to molt:

Make sure your tank has plenty of small sized rubble for your mantis to close up it's burrow with.

YR

 

[sabazerehi]

yes i'm working on getting him some more pieces of small rock and rubble. i dont' see a line like that on him but after speaking to the owner of the lfs where i got the mantis, it does sound like he's about to molt. thanks so much for the pic, now i know what to expect in case i do see a line like that on him.

 

[BALISTIK]

mine also molted early January and depending on the angle i notice a white shimmer across his back. also, he has been a bit more active, especially with moving rocks and rubble.

 

[cameron reef]

my peacok is acting funny smashing coral he put a coral that has alot of points on it in its den i think its useing that to molt. not eating much. must be a trip to see!

 

[Gonodactylus]

In O. scyllarus adults, look for changes in this order:

1. setagenesis (invaginated growth of hairs in antennal scales and gills

2. light, broad stripe on dorsal abdomen

3. increased digging and building

4. stops eating although they may take and then reject prey

5. decrease in ability to strike

6. midline split in 6, 7 and 8th thoracic tergites

The larger the animal, the longer these take to kick in. A small 2-2.5" O. scyllarus could complete the entire sequence in a couple of days, a 6.5 adult two weeks.

Roy

 

[sabazerehi]

thanks for that dr. roy, he's definitely around the 3rd stage, but in addition to digging he's been sticking his face in the sand and acting almost as if he's blind, is that normal too? thanks again, that list really clears up a lot and i think it's safe to say now that he is in the molting process. i think it's amazing how they all seem to do it around the same time, a mantis at the same lfs where i got mine just molted as well.

 

[Gonodactylus]

In the wild they stomatopods are often synchronized to molt in relation to the moon (tides). This synchrony is often maintained for some time in the lab. The same is true of egg laying.



Roy

 

[Thromgar]

Great details, such a fascinating process.

 

[BALISTIK]

I noticed the "new" hairs growing also. I gave him some krill to test his appetite and he was all about it. I'm assuming hes in the initial molting cycle. I wonder how long before he won't take food

the process is really amazing!!

 

[sabazerehi]

ya that's wut i'm wondering too, mine seems be in the third phase and he's been digging and stuff for about a week now and he's still accepting food. this whole process is so nerve racking, i wish he'd molt already!

 

[sabazerehi]

now my mantis is acting kind of drunk, he seems very clumsy, he'll swim to the top of the tank and then just let him sell fall down and he'll land on his back and struggle a little to flip back over. is this part of the whole molting process as well because i don't see it on the list?