I watched this guy sway back and forth for three hours last night just knowing he was eclosing. I finally went to bed. This morning he has not eclosed and now when I touch the chrysalid he does not move. What happened? Did he get stuck? Is there anything I can do? This is so heartbreaking.
Leslie
Help! Can BF get stuck in chrysalid
Oh no, Leslie!! I hope everything will be ok with the little guy! And, I hope that you get an answer soon, because I'm sure you're anxious to know what's going on.
Oh it is horrible. I am just glad you responded to let me know some people are awake out there. This little guy worked so hard last night, I mean hard, and I kept telling myself I hope he is not stuck. I have never seen any of the others eclose so not real sure how they do it but I did not think they would whip back and forth for three hours. But I left him alone thinking I would have a BF this morning and now nothing, he is still hanging there and when I touch him he does not move. Last night I could touch him and he would actually move towards my finger. It was so sweet. That is why this is so heartbreaking. And I know I am not supposed to become emotionally attached but I mean I did not think eclosing was supposed to be a dangerous part of their lives. I figured it was like clockwork. Thanks Felicia for answering. You go have a great day and I know I will get some help here soon. I just wish I could help the little guy come out but I doubt that is possible and do not even want to try without some expert advice. Thanks girl. Go have fun.
Leslie
Well, in all my despair about my poor stuck BF, I just checked him again and still no movement but one of my others eclosed. So that helps me a little bit. But I know the one that just eclosed did not act anything like the one I watched last night that did not eclose. So I am thinking something terrible must have been wrong. Hoping someone comes along with some information about what on earth could have happened. But at least from despair comes elation that one did eclose and is a real beauty.
Leslie
Leslie - It doesn't sound good. Many times the chrysalids are attacked by small predators or if the cat was sick when it went into it's chrysalis it may just die in the chrysalis. I've had many cats that never made it to the butterfly stage because something happened. It's the odds of nature. It happens. At least you are getting others that are emerging just fine. And many, many more make it in captivity than in the wild. So you are doing a great job saving many of them!
I'm so sorry to hear that Leslie. I just had a heartsick moment myself; I released a new monarch two days ago late in the day (we'd been gone all day), and she flew right onto the road to sun herself. I chased after her (the neighbors probably thought I was crazy), but then a car drove over her. Didn't crush her, and she could still fly, but she was releasing some kind of greenish liquid. I was so mad at myself for not waiting 'til the next morning. She flew up into a tree for the night, and I'm really hoping she made it somehow and was just jostled around with no permanent injury. I guess I'll never know! But it is heartbreaking when you invest so much time and energy. (And you get attached to those little cuties!) But becky's right--they've got a leg up on their wild counterparts with our help! :-)
Thanks yall. I am still very heartbroken about this as I feel he was struggling to get out and I could not do anything about it. But I tell ya, the last one I let go flew off so fast I could not even make a wish. The one I let go today was so sweet, he flew around my head twice before taking off. It was as if he was saying thanks and giving me time to make my wish. Thank goodness for him or I would have probably stayed depressed all day. I know they are safer with me than in the wild but you just feel so helpless when something like that happens and there is nothing you can do. Just stand by and watch. I have decided to stop trying to watch the little guys do their thing. I will check on them several times a day as usual and be thrilled with an eclosure and thrilled with a chrysalid but not watch so closely and try not to get so attached. And I am not so attached to the point that when I let them go it saddens me, it was just this was so tragic. So as of now I have three chrysalids, and three cats. And so far a 50/50 success rate. I guess that is pretty good and I am glad I did this either way. I know they are better off with me and that none of this is my fault. So don't worry guys, I am not giving up. I promise. It is such a thrill to release one out in the garden, I could do that all day long.
Leslie
Leslie,
I wish I could have posted to this last night! I'm sorry to hear about your little guy, after all the care and attention you gave it. :( But, you tried your best, and he probably survived a lot longer than he would have out in the wild.
I'm glad you're not giving up!! Because I'm sure the good far outweighs the bad. Plus, we have to compare chrysalids, right? :) Hang in there, you're doing great!!
Thanks girl. I just dmailed you about this. Saw your beautiful chrysalid. Very happy for you. Looks like a good place to stay if he has to stay in there all winter, huh? I hope they come out earlier just so you get the joy of experiencing that but if not, like you said, what better way to start out the spring?
Thanks for listening to me.
Leslie