egg bound

[dlemmings]

well I have read about a female being egg bound which leads to death...my original mantids were a Ghost sexed pair (thanks KitKat) and after raising to adult and successfully breeding them she Only laid on ooth, got fat like another ooth was coming but died. because it was winter I figured the temps were off ( male died right after breeding, but I thing I did not mist him enough...was using space heater for temps)

Fast-forward a year and a few nymphs I raised suffered more mortality than I was prepared for (but got them at L1 locally not L-5 like from KitKat) figured lower age= more chance for mortality. anyways only 1 male made it to adult and as soon as I secured a female for him (thanks again Kiet) he died...SAME DAY!!! uggg!!

so I got a male (thanks Rich) on trade and as soon as I got him the female got all sluggish and not acting Normal...she is quite plump but not Huge. Rich suggested raising temp & RH so I have, but now one of her raptorials looks "dark" and she is still not eating...will kill a BBF cause it annoys her but wont eat it.

Due to the black look of the raptorial she came back inside from the garage tank where I can keep her at 70-80RH and 85 degrees with peaks at 90...but poor ventilation. so i let here get get air sitting an a plant inside, then back to the higher temp & RH. last night she stayed in the screen enclosure in my home that houses the rest of my mantids just for the change. all of my other guests are fine and fit.

does she sound "egg-bound" I have not seen droppings but again she has not eaten in like 4-5 days or so...I did give her a little Honey.

has anyone successfully reversed "egg-bound females?...any advise? Rich was to get a few ooths in trade and I don't want the male to be a waste and let Him down like I did Kiet

 

[aNisip]

I have had personal experience with an eggbound female budwing who just got far and never laid (after mated)...she eventually died, but AgentA says that when he added some soil and plants and more natural aspects to the enclosure and she soon became un-eggbound...I don't remember all the details but it's worth a shot...hope this helps.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[Krissim Klaw]

I've had a few females that never laid. However, they lived as long as any of my other girls and did not seem to suffer any additional problems minus having the extra weight to lug around. I should point out however I feed my girls less than I am guessing most people feed on this board. Perhaps that is why my girls don't drop even if eggbound?

I always like to super pump up the humidity and drape an extra blanket to give her more privacy if I see one of my girls is acting antsy like she wants to lay. That tends to do the trick. I've also heard other members have luck with sticking a girl in a new cage/rearranging a cage with tons of stuff to lay on. I do think however there is probably a difference between a girl who isn't laying because she doesn't feel the environment is right and one that is truly eggbound.

 

[dlemmings]

i deliberately but a white paper towel on the floor to monitor droppings and feeding...no poop and kill not eat the BBF...I fear she is on last legs...got a dozen or so L-2 babies and an ooth incubating...but as I said...Rich was so gracious in trading me... I want her to come around and get frisky