Recent content by Deacon

Haven't been here in several months and I thought I should add the final chapter of Freda, the Budwing.  This very sweet little survivor, with her horribly prolapsed anus, went on to lay a total of nine infertile ooths before weakening and passing at 203 days old. She was my longest living...

Mantisman 230, When my mantids were younger, I never thought about over-feeding.  I mean, they make their own decisions in the wild (granted, they don't have someone bringing them food every day!)  So it wasn't until they became adults (I'm only referring to the females as none of the males...

MajorManny, This is not meant to say don't fly your guy.  But, I had a very active Ghost male, Casper, who made a dash for it anytime I opened his tank.  He wasn't careful or maybe not a very good flyer and he wound up in odd places where I had to rescue him.  Day 40 he was flying like he was...

Well, Freda, Budwing, layed her fifth ooth today.  Considering her anal prolapse, the left-over ooth on her from last time, and the desicated cerci she is doing really well.  Yes, her rump is covered in ooth matter again/still.  Guess this girl just dosen't know how to clean up!  I'm going to...

Thanks for that info, Thomas. Off topic: I'm having that issue with another post that when I try to reply, it pops up the old post---like that day you said you had already answered my question?  So, I'll give you the answer here:  My Popa spurca, Daisy, layed her first ooth at 34 days and she...

Thanks, MantidBro.  They do seem to enjoy it and like Rick said---they get wet in the wild!

Thomas, of the eight remaining mantids, three are in their eighties (days-old) and three are 105 to 114.  My youngest are the Sphodromantids who are 49 and 52 days-old.  She is gravid and still waiting for her first ooth but they stare at each other all the time.  I keep waiting for her to lay...

Thomas, I tried wetting her rump but can't dislodge the last of the ooth matter. She is getting gravid again (she and the male are 112 days-old). He's in rough shape as his arms and legs are failing so I gave him a bunch of plastic seaweed plant with more grabbing hooks and he is staying in it...

Oh, Thomas, Doris dropped dead two days after I posted her removal from the communal tank.  I guess she did get injured but I didn't see any green blood or holes anywhere on her.  Too bad as she was only 50 days old and gravid.  I don't believe either of the males ever bred with her though. She...

My mantids are all adults---never tried misting their arms when small nor did I often offer them a drink from an eyedropper.  Using the eyedropper isn't hard, it is just hard on my back while I lean at odd angles while they drink.  The mantids are all in aquariums (3 sections per each 10 gal)...

Clicker, Because it is quicker than an eyedropper, every morning I spray the forearms of all my mantids until I see a couple of drops forming, with the exception of my Ghost.  She does not appreciate it.  My other species, Sphodromantids, Hierodula, Double Shields, Budwings and Popa Spurcas all...

Thomas, Doris was moved to a safer home a few days ago!  That Daisy, the cannibal, had her trapped in the crotch of a grouping of twigs.  At first, I thought Doris was dead since she was so contorted but I ushered Daisy to the opposite end of the tank and gently got Doris out of her...

Thomas, sorry for the delay in responding (mom in hospital and now nursing home and taking all my time) but I can give you an update.  I did wet her rump down.  Finally noticed her trying to kick it off and gave her a gentle hand.  Did not note any green prolapse but the next day she had a...

Freda still has that big clump of ooth matter on her and I don't see how she can pass frass.  I can no longer see her prolapse but it looks like on of her cerci has blackened.  And, hardly eating (on purpose), she is fattening up again.  Otherwise, she is active.  Can't be good, I wouldn't think...

Thomas, as of two days ago, Louie also lost his head.  (I have been at the hospital with my 93 yr-old mom so mantids are taking a back seat.)  He's still on her back and I don't know if he ever connected.  The first couple of days, he would try to connect if I blew on him gently, but I never saw...