blepharopsis mendica - newborn - extended abdomen

[Ripley]

Blepharopsis Mendica - newborn - extended abdomen

Yesterday I had a lot of B.M newborns but there are 2 or 3 with extended abdomens... not like all the others... And I got really curious that today one of these was cannibalizing a "normal" one. Are these extended versions normal? Should I keep them? Anyone has an opinion?

 

[Aryia]

That just looks like a very full abdomen to me. Maybe it's because he's being a pig?

 

[Ripley]

You mean he is eating a lot? ... and actually it is normal? Jesus! Cant wait to get home and separate them all!!

 

[Aryia]

Well the food they eat has to go somewhere and mantises store it in the abdomen. So the more they eat, the fuller their abdomen gets, its a good sign when nymphs have full abdomens (though I guess the cannibalism part isn't too good). You just need to feed them more in frequency or quantity. They're all cannibalistic when they're hungry, aggressive eaters tend to fare better : )