chinese nyms

[nebrakacinese]

My nymps that i hatched a few months ago,some are in their 5th Instar.DO they continue growing after their 7th just trying to get an idea when i can try some breeding.They hatched about Nov. 5th.Just wondering as i've never done this before.By the way Merry Christmas to every one,and may your new year be successful with your mantids.

 

[Ricardo]

full wings = Adult

 

[PhilinYuma]

full wings = Adult

Yeah, and once they are adult they won't grow any longer, though ooth bearing females get fatter.

 

[dgerndt]

Merry Christmas! I have a Chinese nymph that hatched at about the same time, although he's only L4 at the moment. But you're right, they get HUGE with the molt to L4 (remembering an old post from you). I'm starting to get worried about where I'm going to put him with his next molt! I think he'll need to leave his 32 oz deli cup. lol :lol:

 

[nebrakacinese]

I just lost a couple of days ago a male that was doing his 4th molt.For some reason at least for me they shed thet're skin down to their right hind leg.Well he lost his perch and was dragging it around and got weak.On the plus side I have a female that went to L4 and turned out beautiful.Does any one ever have trouble with chinese moulting to their right rear leg and then have problems?

 

[lancaster1313]

I have had some issues with Chinese molting to one or the other, or both, rear legs, and then having bent legs. But, I have also had them fix theirselves with the next molt. I haven't counted the molts but it seems that they got messed up in the first instars and then 2 or 3 molts away from adult. I also had problems with the wings not being perfect, the only ones that came out perfect were in containers that seemed crowded with plants, and my smallest female that molted to perfect adult in a 32oz container. The smallest is the one who is still alive, surprisingly because she is only 1 day younger than her late siblings. The siblings all died over a month ago, I am hoping it was of old age.

 

[dgerndt]

My Chinese nymph, Kyle, had a bad first molt. He fell while he was still trying to get his back legs out. I helped him get out and he had his two back legs curved and out of shape. His second molt was fine, and his legs seemed to have recovered a bit. But with his most recent molt, his legs are 100% normal, and he is just GORGEOUS! So just keep a close eye on your nymphs and make sure there is enough humidity when the time comes for their next molt. I've been recording each date of the molt, and it looks to be around every 14 days or so, depending on how warm you keep them. The colder it is, the longer it takes for a molt.

 

[nebrakacinese]

When my hatclings were quite small,I had a high mortality rate because of the rear leg molting.I misted every day but i remember once long ago Rebbecca said that the chinese is a water loving species.So as i'm still new I guess I'll learn more about them.When they"re adult I'm going to try and breed some.Another learning experience.

 

[nebrakacinese]

When my hatclings were quite small,I had a high mortality rate because of the rear leg molting.I misted every day but i remember once long ago Rebbecca said that the chinese is a water loving species.So as i'm still new I guess I'll learn more about them.When they"re adult I'm going to try and breed some.Another learning experience.

 

[dgerndt]

When my hatclings were quite small,I had a high mortality rate because of the rear leg molting.I misted every day but i remember once long ago Rebbecca said that the chinese is a water loving species.So as i'm still new I guess I'll learn more about them.When they"re adult I'm going to try and breed some.Another learning experience.

I started with five Chinese nymphs, and I'm down to only one. Three died for no good reason, and one died due to a mismolt. But you can help them when they don't molt all the way out. I gently hold them by the leg that is stuck with tweezers, then I let the mantis crawl on my hand and they naturally work themselves out.

I mist my nymphs twice a day; once in the morning and once at night. That's the time they are most likely to molt. I learned this from Precarious.

 

[nebrakacinese]

Precarious would be the man to know,and now I'm doing it to instead of only once a day.

 

[dgerndt]

Yup. He's a smart guy.