As I keep mantids, I've realized how sensitive they really are. Each mantid I've had so far died of disease, except my Phyllocrania paradoxa, who are lucky to be under my care after figuring things out.
The first three died of black death because the water that I thought was filtered turned out not to be (apparently a new filter needed to be put in long before).
Then one died because of a bad batch of crickets.
Here's a list of things to do/not to do to increase the chances of your mantid living a longer life free of disease:
1. NO TAP WATER. ONLY FILTERED OR DISTILLED. BOTTLED WATER WORKS TOO.
2. AVOID EXCESSIVE HUMIDITY. MANTIDS DON'T NEED TO BE MISTED AS MUCH AS ONE MIGHT THINK.
3. AVOID FEEDING THEM CRICKETS OR OUTDOOR INSECTS. HAND-FEEDING THEM WAX WORMS IS A BETTER OPTION.
4. BOIL OR CLEAN ANY STICKS OR LEAVES YOU PUT IN YOUR MANTIDS' CONTAINER FROM OUTSIDE. MANTIDS BRED IN CAPTIVITY OFTEN AREN'T IMMUNE TO OUTDOOR PARASITES.
And this isn't related to disease, but mantids lose their feet when put on window screens, so this is another thing to avoid.
The first three died of black death because the water that I thought was filtered turned out not to be (apparently a new filter needed to be put in long before).
Then one died because of a bad batch of crickets.
Here's a list of things to do/not to do to increase the chances of your mantid living a longer life free of disease:
1. NO TAP WATER. ONLY FILTERED OR DISTILLED. BOTTLED WATER WORKS TOO.
2. AVOID EXCESSIVE HUMIDITY. MANTIDS DON'T NEED TO BE MISTED AS MUCH AS ONE MIGHT THINK.
3. AVOID FEEDING THEM CRICKETS OR OUTDOOR INSECTS. HAND-FEEDING THEM WAX WORMS IS A BETTER OPTION.
4. BOIL OR CLEAN ANY STICKS OR LEAVES YOU PUT IN YOUR MANTIDS' CONTAINER FROM OUTSIDE. MANTIDS BRED IN CAPTIVITY OFTEN AREN'T IMMUNE TO OUTDOOR PARASITES.
And this isn't related to disease, but mantids lose their feet when put on window screens, so this is another thing to avoid.