Can an iris oratoria nymph molt on mesh that is REALLY high?

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I am happy to say I accounted for all my 26 new nymphs last night! They are 5 to 11 days old. They are all alive! Now they have figured out how to climb to the mesh. I'm afraid after they molt they will fall and die? Or do they crawl out on to the mesh and hang and dry? Should I put a net under them, or get them all off and remove the stick they are climbing up?

Also, 6 have not eaten and 3 look very small and weak. I bought a 1/2 gallon plastic fish tank and transferred them there because it is smaller. Is plastic ok? Do they have enough ventilation? I am feeding them aphids mostly.

Any suggestions on how to feed the weak ones?

Also, they do not drink water. Is that normal? will they be ok?

Thank you!

 

[Ntsees]

There's no need to put a mesh to catch them. If they fall during molting (highly unlikely that they will fall), whether there's anything to catch them or not, they'll sustain damage because they are still soft. Because they are in the first instar, all they really need is something ~1 inch off the ground and they'll be fine (I give mines christmas tree twigs 3 inch off the ground). There's not really a need for them to be in the highest place possible.

If they are thirsty, they'll drink from misting. If they don't drink, that means they're fine. Where ever you put them is up to you, but make sure they have enough room. Your objective is to have them sitting still and not constantly moving around. Aphids are fine if they are small enough.

 

[Extrememantid]

No need for anything to catch them.. Pretty much just have something grippy about 1" high and they will be fine

 

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Thank you!

I tried fixing there cage up for molting. unfortunately, I put a non- compact moss under the sticks, and now it is soaking the humidity right out of the air, after it dried. I am afraid to mess with it again, in case any are molting. Some are very fat. If I give them any light the humidity will go from 30% to 0%. ( I know sun is key! )0% humidity is normal in the desert, and they are acclimated to that in the daytime. Before the moss, it was 50% humidity at night at the bottom of the cage. The top is usually0% were some are hanging.

I keep reading they need humidity for molting, what should I do?

 

[Ntsees]

...I keep reading they need humidity for molting, what should I do?

Maybe for tropical species, you might need a higher humidity. The Mediterranean mantid isn't called "mediterranean" for nothing. I'm my experience, they do not require that much humidity. I don't frequently mist mines, but when I do mist, it's only for them to drink to keep them hydrated and it's not to keep humidity high. As long as it's warm and they are not dehydrated, they should be fine.

 

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My first successful molt! Almost. She's not done drying. But she turned color from yellowish-brown to bright green! She sticks out like a sore thumb on her brown stick! I can't put them in the sun anymore because it get over 110 degrees in the tank, and I don't want them to dehydrate. All their food dies once it gets too hot and dry too.

But my question is this: Would she have stayed brown in the sun to match the dead vegetation, or did she turn color because the aphids she eats are green?

Also, the other nymphs are watching her like they are ready to fight. I read that they leave each other alone until the 3rd molt. Is that true?

 

[Rick]

No need for anything to catch them.. Pretty much just have something grippy about 1" high and they will be fine

All you did with this post was say the same thing Ntsees above you said.....