Idolomantis Diabolica feeding trouble

[utterbeastage]

Ever since moulting to L8 my female Idolomantis Diabolica has hardly been eating , her abdomen was worryingly thin but by the looks of things she's taken a bluebottle or two but it's been about two weeks since the moult, I'mjust worried she'll just starve herself to death (After all this bloody hard work!)

Any Ideas ?

I've tried handfeeding but she's not eatng at all, picture of her abdomen in the link:

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k97/long...do/IMG_0082.jpg

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

[massaman]

maybe she is going to become a adult if not alreadgy

 

[utterbeastage]

maybe she is going to become a adult if not alreadgy

I was thinking that but her wingbuds are nowhere near as large as they should be right before moulting , she has another two weeks or so at least

 

[Rick]

She does not appear ready to molt yet. She doens't look that thin but maybe it is the angle of the pic.

 

[agent A]

Try handfeeding her, honey usually gets them eating again! Works every time for my creobroters.

 

[utterbeastage]

She does not appear ready to molt yet. She doens't look that thin but maybe it is the angle of the pic.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2107/227702..._16ed2cfe14.jpg

^In comparison to this picture , that's what got me worried in the first place , but if she doesn't look skinny to anyone that's put my mind at rest

I'll give the honey a try

 

[ismart]

She looks fine in the picture. If your that worried why don't you increase the temperature a little. That should raise her metabolism up and maybe she will eat more.

 

[pohchunyee]

utterbeastage:

Is your L8 still not eating? I notice this on my Idolomantis as well. However, I place them in a huge 3 ft X 1.5 ft X 1.5 ft cage and let tons of blue bottle flying around to stimulate them to feed. It works!

 

[utterbeastage]

I agree! There is an old Chinese saying: You can't get the grapes, you'll always say it taste sour!utterbeastage:

Is your L8 still not eating? I notice this on my Idolomantis as well. However, I place them in a huge 3 ft X 1.5 ft X 1.5 ft cage and let tons of blue bottle flying around to stimulate them to feed. It works!

mine is in a 2foot cube (estimate) and still isn't eatng roperly , ive noticed they always have random periods where they won't eat ANYTHING at all.

 

[utterbeastage]

one more thing , she STILL isn't eating!

how close to a moult do you reckon she is?

 

[Rick]

Sorry for not cleaning this up sooner. Keep it on topic everyone.

 

[pohchunyee]

Hey.......try to squeeze the inside of a cricket/flies/any insect and put it right on her mouth and see if she start eating that way!

 

[utterbeastage]

Hey.......try to squeeze the inside of a cricket/flies/any insect and put it right on her mouth and see if she start eating that way!

mm lovely , Ill give it a go

although I reckon she's quite close to moulting

 

[Rick]

If she is subadult she didn't look close to molting in your first pic. I was trying to get your second pic to show up but I think you have the link wrong.

 

[bassist]

Hey.......try to squeeze the inside of a cricket/flies/any insect and put it right on her mouth and see if she start eating that way!

Cricket? Are you insane?

 

[pohchunyee]

Cricket? Are you insane?

If you keep your cricket clean/ bought from trusted pet store... they can be good feeder. I do this all the time for my mismolted mantis... some survive when the mismolt is not critical/life threatening.

 

[bassist]

If you keep your cricket clean/ bought from trusted pet store... they can be good feeder. I do this all the time for my mismolted mantis... some survive when the mismolt is not critical/life threatening.

You cannot feed Idolomantis crickets.

 

[utterbeastage]

If she is subadult she didn't look close to molting in your first pic. I was trying to get your second pic to show up but I think you have the link wrong.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k97/long...do/IMG_0092.jpg

theres the link , Im telling myself she'll moult because I dont want her to starve herself to death for no reason

 

[Rick]

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k97/long...do/IMG_0092.jpgtheres the link , Im telling myself she'll moult because I dont want her to starve herself to death for no reason

If the next molt is adult that one is not ready The wing buds would be swollen.