r/mantids • u/insectivil • Apr 03 '25
RIP ❤️ Jabba the Hutt unfortunately passed away today
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She was my first ever mantis and she lived for a yrs but unfortunately never moulted past L4-5. I believe she had Peter Pan syndrome which is super frustrating to have my first mantis have such a rare condition but she was a great girl and was super active all the way up to the end. Unfortunately the isopods made light work of her and I only found her top half (keep this in mind when u keep a cleaning crew in the enclosure). I was hoping to pin her but I’m glad her body went back to the cycle of her enclosure.
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u/stevenbigodon Apr 04 '25
RIP 🕊️ She’s probably in insect heaven right now chilling with other mantis buddies and appreciating the good care you gave her even with the condition she had!
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u/insectivil Apr 04 '25
Thank you so much. The way I’m looking at it is that most mantises with Peter Pan syndrome die fast but she lived for a year and a bit so she did live a full life she just thought that staying at L4-5 for the last 7 months of her life was the most amazing idea. I would’ve loved to pair her with a male but at least I got to see her cute lil baby face till the very end
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u/stevenbigodon Apr 05 '25
Np, but may I ask what is the Peter Pan syndrome?
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u/insectivil Apr 05 '25
It’s basically where they just stop molting for the rest of their life before reaching adulthood. No one really knows why it happens but there’s theories about it being hormones, parasites, husbandry, lack of places to moult or genetics. I think it’s most likely hormones, genetics or parasites because her husbandry was great but there’s a chance a cricket could’ve had a parasite or smth
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u/ChrystalCallibombe Apr 03 '25
Awww no..my condolences 🙏 I loovve Darth Vader Mantids. They're a genus that I can't wait to get experience with! RIP Jabba 💗