Gongy troubles

[rantology]

Hey all, was looking for advice from anyone with experiences raising Gongylus gongylodes (Violin mantis)... Is mortality rates for the nymphs high? I got a batch of 5 a couple weeks ago and lost one about a week and a half ago. Just found it on the floor of the cage in very poor condition and it expired shortly after. I was bummed but thought maybe I just got unlucky or it had been hurt during shipping somehow. Today I just lost a second one however and I am really starting to wonder if I am doing something wrong with these guys =( 

I'm currently keeping them in this enclosure with plastic mesh on the ceiling @ about 30% humidity and low 90s(f) temp during the day dropping to ~73 at night. They have all been eating house flies and look okay but for the life of me I can't figure out why those two nymphs dropped and died..

 

[MantisGirl13]

I have never hatched Gongys, but I do know that young nymphs are very likely to random, uncaused deaths until about L3 or L4. I am sorry that you lost them! What instar are they? Where did you get them? 

- MantisGirl13

 

[rantology]

I got them from DeShawn (I would never blame him for this though, they arrived super nicely packed and seemingly very health looking and active) about ~L3 I think, they are pretty small. I kept oddly finding them on the ground like they had fallen? But I've never had this issue with that plastic mesh, all my mantids have used it no problem to chill on and molt with. I went ahead and installed a bunch of branches on the top of the cage for them so hopefully if there is some chance that they were for whatever reason falling or jumping they will now have all those sticks to use (though when I put them back in there they went straight up to the mesh again, lol) 

 

[MantisGirl13]

I got mine from DeShawn as well. I only lost one so far, and that was from cannibalism. Gongys have trouble climbing plastic surfaces, so try switching to a different type of screen or fabric. Also, make sure your sticks have good grip and aren't smooth or slippery. I hope that you don't lose any more! How many do you have left?

- MantisGirl13

 

[rantology]

I started with 5, so my two losses brings me to 3.... I am crossing my fingers for no more losses 

 

[Teamonger]

Gongyies are a difficult bunch but so very lovely. I agree with MantisGirl13 about the plastic mesh. These guys can't climb any smooth surface especially as they get bigger. I have been keeping mine in mesh cages made of cheap shear curtain material I bought at Walmart. I have never had any of them fall. Any time I take them out it was immediately obvious they have limited climbing ability as they flailed around on all the man made objects until I set up a nice bundle of sticks on my desk for them to hang out on.

I did lose half of my hatch within the first 4 instars (about 8 of them) but I do not think it was due to normal mortality rate but my inability to keep the humidity up in their enclosure (was waiting for my stuff to arrive after a move including the humidifier). As soon as I stabilized their environment I did not lose any more to horrible mismolts. I did not have any nymphs drop dead for no reason.

I have no idea if it matters but I have been keeping my group at about 40% to 60% humidity (I misread the care-sheet) and at a steady 86°. I got almost all of them to adult with no issues with that setup. I believe the constant high temp may have eggbound my two females however but I cannot be sure. 

Sorry I don´t have better information to share. This was my first time raising Gongyies as well.

 

[rantology]

Hm, interesting. This morning I went ahead and replaced the top mesh in their cage with something much smaller/finer akin to woven screen (minus the woven part) so I feel pretty confident I've eliminated the chance for any accidental falls. I have been misting only the tillandsias every 2-3 days but now that you mention it I could probably mist lightly once each morning 

thanks for the advice you two!

 

[MantisGirl13]

No problem! I am glad you replaced the mesh, and I hope that the increased misting helps as well. I mist all of mine once a day. I don't have too many humidity-sensitive ones. 

- MantisGirl13