Issues with gongy falling?

[Rick]

During the last molt one fell right after molting. With my help was able to crawl up a stick and turn out fine. Another one seconds before molting. Managed to crawl up and molt normally. They are molting again and today I noticed one had fallen after a molt. I helped it up a stick but noticed half of one leg missing and one front leg is twisted a bit. Looks like it may be ok though.

These are in a net cage. Their sheds stay firmly attached to the top. There are no flies in there during molting periods. I don't know if the others are doing something to cause it or not. I have four in one of those net cages everybody is using. Anyone else had issues like this?

 

[revmdn]

Yeah, I had something like this happen durring their last molt. Every one is cool, but one took a fall and got right back up to my suprise. I do have one missing a leg, not sure if that was a molting issue or done by a sibbling.

 

[tier]

Hi

I have had this in every generation: 10-20% of the females fall down right after the final moult, 90% do fine. I do not know why some fall down. I guess the better the food, the better the final moulting will be (strictly big flies fed with honey and flower pollen or bees).

I know you like crickets, Rick, and maybe the crickets you use are fine as mantis food. But I am sure no cricket, not even the healthiest and best fed one, is a good diet for emusids like Gongylus.

regards

 

[Katnapper]

Yes, I too have had a couple of Gongy's mismolt in the net cages from falling. As adults, especially the males, I've seen them occasionally "fall" off down to the bottom when misting the cage. Regardless, I can't think of any better way to keep them than in the net cages. It seems they would surely fall more in a plastic container with only the lid having either screening or cloth-type ventilation, even with sanding the sides of the interior plastic. I've sent some adult Gongy's in 32oz cups with sandpapered sides, and they can't grip the sides very well or at all anyways.

Maybe pinning some sticks, backer rod, or other type of artificial foliage to the top or sides might help. I don't know... haven't tried it with the Gongys.

 

[Rick]

HiI have had this in every generation: 10-20% of the females fall down right after the final moult, 90% do fine. I do not know why some fall down. I guess the better the food, the better the final moulting will be (strictly big flies fed with honey and flower pollen or bees).

I know you like crickets, Rick, and maybe the crickets you use are fine as mantis food. But I am sure no cricket, not even the healthiest and best fed one, is a good diet for emusids like Gongylus.

regards

What makes you think I feed everything crickets?

 

[Katnapper]

I think the issue is more related to the structure of this particular species' tarsi, and its large size and weight. They just seem to have more problems gripping surfaces, whether moving from place to place or holding on while hanging/molting.

 

[kamakiri]

Is the problem that they are falling from the old exoskeleton?

Mine seem to prefer using the plastic grid screen that I am using for a 'ladder'. There seems to be a preference to use the sections that are around 45 to 60 degrees from horizontal. But I only have L5s that I've kept since L2.

Just a long shot...but maybe try tilting one of the cubes?

Would be nice if we could find somebody with some experience in the field with these.

 

[Rick]

Is the problem that they are falling from the old exoskeleton?Mine seem to prefer using the plastic grid screen that I am using for a 'ladder'. There seems to be a preference to use the sections that are around 45 to 60 degrees from horizontal. But I only have L5s that I've kept since L2.

Just a long shot...but maybe try tilting one of the cubes?

Would be nice if we could find somebody with some experience in the field with these.

I can look into doing that. Not sure where they are falling from.

 

[PhilinYuma]

What makes you think I feed everything crickets?

I doubt that it makes much of a difference regarding their falling or not, but as a matter of interest, Rick, what do you feed your gongies?

 

[hibiscusmile]

Tier has been raising these as long as I have been on the forum, so I go with what he says. I am only feeding mine blue bottle and house flies and they are falling too. I have not tried the bee pollen though, so I will have to do that right away, they are in a cage with all kinds of glued sticks to hand from and screen, nothing has helped them.

 

[Rick]

I doubt that it makes much of a difference regarding their falling or not, but as a matter of interest, Rick, what do you feed your gongies?

They are fed flies as I stated in the original post which is irrelevant to this conversation.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I do occassionaly give them a cricket, but only once in a blue moon as they are housed together and to much work to feed them that way.

 

[kamakiri]

Tier has been raising these as long as I have been on the forum, so I go with what he says. I am only feeding mine blue bottle and house flies and they are falling too. I have not tried the bee pollen though, so I will have to do that right away, they are in a cage with all kinds of glued sticks to hand from and screen, nothing has helped them.

On that note...maybe Andrew can chime in with his thoughts. He seems to be pretty successful with these and lives in your neck o' the woods...I'd like to hear what he suggests.

Since the blue bottles don't seem to be a 100% solution...I'm thinking it's not the food.

 

[Rick]

On that note...maybe Andrew can chime in with his thoughts. He seems to be pretty successful with these and lives in your neck o' the woods...I'd like to hear what he suggests.Since the blue bottles don't seem to be a 100% solution...I'm thinking it's not the food.

Why was food even mentioned? I never inquired about food! This has nothing to do with food.

 

[kamakiri]

They are fed flies as I stated in the original post which is irrelevant to this conversation.

And ironically, I have been feeding mine crix to date with no ill effects so far. I did just get some blue bottles, but I think I might try to raise one or two on exclusively crickets.

Back to the moulting space geometry issue...can anyone else comment on the angle and surfaces available to your mantises for molting?

This is what my typical setup has been:

I'm concerned that I need to use something similar, but scaled up for when they are larger.

 

[Opivy]

to date I haven't put anything in the 32oz deli cups with my guys yet - but I like your little setup Grant. I want to do something simple -

Do you secure the branch in there with anything? (or is it even a branch?)

 

[Rick]

Here is my set up. Net cage.

 

[sbugir]

Perhaps the freshly molted gongylus get their tarsi stuck, and fall when struggling to pull them out? Those net cages are very fine.

 

[revmdn]

Rick, it's all your falt that all of our gg's have been falling. You and your darn cricket feeding. :lol: