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And be sure to rinse off the soapy water REAL WELL.  Speaking of twigs, noticed today what I thought was dead is putting out a bit of growth at a branching. Surprise, surprise. At least the humidity and temp in the habitat is good for the  growing twig.    :blink:

All you can do is wait and see. My last female still has not molted to adult while the first to adult has laid two ooths.   After a week I started giving one house fly a day. If not eaten in about 2 hours it is removed. Every six days or so a bit of honey-water. Almost feel like a "father to be"...

Aye. Sometimes it just happens. No matter what you do.

This is my opinion only. Be vary cautious when dealing with any regulatory arm of the federal government.

Actually, after this thread started I found my first ill mantis on her back. After 2 days of minute raptor movements, she died. I have been kicking around the same thoughts as above. Have not decided to stop maintaining mantis but will be looking at how I do it. LOL to someone that loves flies...

Sorry to hear this. Have no idea here to help. Could it have been too much honey? Could the water have been bad? If you used a eye-dropper, was it contaminated? Recently had first surprise death of female ghost I was getting ready to mate. Found belly up with only minute (very minute) raptor...

Gotta love all the knowledge contained here.

This may be one aspect of mantis keeping that most new keepers have not thought about. For me is one of the hardest. As insects are so short lived we will face this many times while maintaining mantis.    When I need to I use the freezer for 48 hrs or so. Doesn't make it easier.

Heyas and welcome.

While my experience has been limited so far by just having 3 species, I have found it varies not only by molt or L level but also by species. Faster when young then it starts to slow down.  Wait till you are on last molt to adult!  I still have one female that needs one more molt. She is about 7...

Welcome to the forum.      For sure none of us will tell your boss.

@SerleAye. Even though I know better it still gets to me. The different personalities fascinate me, within one species I mean.

@GingerC I suspect the new chemical smell was what set the ants off. Still very interesting topic.

Great feeling of relief when you get the first one to adult. Or the last of the batch is adult finally.

Sure can get to you deeply when they turn their heads and look at you. Amazing feeling. But then again I believe the mantis is the only insect that can turn its head.

Seeing pictures of P. paradoxia with many different colors I started looking for the reason why. Found a early forum thread about this. Seems may be more than just humidity and temp. Camouflage Analysis Of The “African Leaf Mantis” Phyllocrani Started by chun, 22 Aug 2006 in general...

I had not answered because I do not know. Use it and let us know how it did for you. I am curious though what you are trying to accomplish? Bigger as in a 2 in mantis grows up to be 3 in or just healthier ?

Of course Cali.!   They get all the good stuff first.    (was stationed there in Army for a bit, gotta love Monteray and Big Sur.)

:wub:   It is so nice to be in contact with others of this specialized interest. To have so many at the "beginner level" like myself is refreshing. Among the many are a few who like helping others with less knowledge.

Congrats big time!  I think there are a lot of us newer forum members getting ready to sweat the big one for the first time. For sure I am nervous and getting up to try myself with Phyllocrania paradoxa  (ghost).