Issue with feeding my ghosts

[lovemymantisfriends]

So, I have 3 ghost mantids.  I have tried repeatedly to feed them houseflies.  They want absolutely nothing to do with houseflies or tiny mealworms.  They are all L4.  They will grab and kill the houseflies, but then just drop them.  The mealworms they will grab at 1x, if they are unsuccessful grabbing it, they want nothing to do with trying again.  

What do you feed yours?  Anyone else have issues?  Mine will only eat fruit flies.  I know darn well they could be eating much larger prey.  

 

[★ Ｔｒａｃｙ Ｇｒｅｙ ☆]

~This is usually a sign of them about to molt, do they seem fatter and do they not move around that much? If so then they are definetly gunna molt?

 

[lovemymantisfriends]

This is usually a sign of them about to molt, do they seem fatter and do they not move around that much? If so then they are definetly gunna molt?

They just molted about 2 weeks ago

 

[Predatorhousepet]

Ghosts can molt again in as little as 2 weeks in the early instars, I had one only take 10 days between molts once.

 

[Mystymantis]

Sounds like they are about to molt as mentioned above. Also I found that ghosts where not that big of eaters, sometimes going several days without eating before a molt and after a molt. So don't panic if they don't eat for a little while. As long as it isn't like over a week I think they should be fine, especially if they are due to molt.

Good luck!

 

[lovemymantisfriends]

Well 1 did molt!  I have a feeling the other 2 arent far behind.  Still only eating fruit flies tho....

 

[MantisGirl13]

 Gratz on the molt! Any clue how to speed up subadult females to molt to adult faster? I have a male that just molted to adult last night, and I want to time the females right so they can mate successfully.

- MantisGirl13

 

[Predatorhousepet]

The only way to possibly speed up molts is to keep them at the higher end of their temperature range and feed them as often as they will accept food. This is okay to attempt with ghosts because they are not prone to overeating but for some species, usually the more aggressive hunters, letting them eat as much as they like is not a good idea.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Ok. I will try that. Thanks!

- MantisGirl13