New Guy and Indian Violin Feeder Question

[randa4]

Hello,

My name is Mike, and I live in Tucson, AZ. I am retired, so I finally have some time to pursue all of the hobbies I've never done before. Keeping and breeding Mantids is near the top on my list. Have a good insect background, and have reared butterflies and larger moths for over 40 years.

Got a group of (6) L3 Indian Violins about ten days ago, and have had some feeder problems. Seller gave me 1K of blue bottle pupae, but they are old and don't hatch. Fed them a few rounds of melanogaster, but they were like appetizers. In desperation, fed them some 1/4" crickets, which may have been a big mistake. Will not repeat that. Have fresh BB pupae coming, but won't be until next week. Question - will my mistake kill the nymphs? They are in a screen cage with a heat lamp on top, and temps are from 80-95F. Right now they all look pretty happy.

Also, all the care sheets talk about proper feeders, but don't say how often to feed them? Anyone who can help me with this would be most appreciated.

Thank you!

 

[CosbyArt]

Hello Mike and welcome to the forum

Sorry to hear the BB were bad, but you got that problem solved sounds like. Not sure what the big mistake was of using crickets - did the crickets attack the nymphs? Make your nymphs sick?

Regarding feeding my nymphs I feed Melanogaster and Hydei fruit flies (depending on larvae stage). I put in about 4 flies, and usually add more in 2 to 3 days once they have been ate.

 

[randa4]

Thanks, Art.

No, crickets were small and got eaten quirky. Just read in care sheet for this species that crickets can, "have bad side effects." Haven't seen any yet. Maybe I am a bit over concerned. Don't know. Thanks also for the feeding cycle info.

 

[randa4]

that should read "quickly."

 

[dmina]

 

[LAME]

crickets are only a problem if the owner neglects them, they must be treated as another "pet" so to speak. Keep them clean and feed them fresh, remove the dead as soon as you see them.

I use crickets and have had no real issues from them.

welcome to the community.

 

[Sticky]

I have fed honey to my babies in an emergancy. It holds them until I can get proper food. Plus it is a treat so you will be training your mantids at the sametime!

And welcome from snowy windy cold Maine!

 

[Rick]

Welcome.

There is nothing at all wrong with using crickets as feeders. I used them almost exclusively for years. But you do need to ensure crickets are from a reputable source and that they are taken care of. There are some people that spread false information about crickets, my advice is to just ignore them.

As far as feeding frequency goes, I feed mantids every other day. They should have nice plump abdomens that are not so full they look like they will burst (they won't) or very flat. Adult females I feed daily.

 

[randa4]

All,

Thank you for the welcome and good comments, much appreciated.

Today first molt for one of my Violins - L3 to L4. I know…you will all laugh and shake your heads, and still was exciting for this newbie. All perfect and nymph looks fine (and bigger).

 

[Rick]

I forgot to mention that while crickets are fine, they may not always be the best type of food. I always fed violins flying foods such as moths and flies.

 

[randa4]

Yes, they are just an interim until my BB pupae get here next week. They are all starting to molt, and think they eat less until completed. I will also have moths, since I live in Tucson, and have lots around my porch lights. Been too cold this past week, but warmer temps coming. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[dmina]

Today first molt for one of my Violins - L3 to L4. I know…you will all laugh and shake your heads, and still was exciting for this newbie. All perfect and nymph looks fine (and bigger).

I still love every molt... It amazes me... How much they change each molt... I hope that part of this hobby, never changes....

 

[randa4]

It was fascinating to watch - only caught the end. The L4 is so much bigger and stands out in the herd. Think more molts are coming. Do the freshly molted nymphs eat their old skins? It disappeared in a few hours.

 

[CosbyArt]

Do the freshly molted nymphs eat their old skins? It disappeared in a few hours.

Nope, no mantis will eat it. Usually it will just get knocked loose (usually within minutes by the mantis itself) and it will further shrivel up/decompose on the bottom of their habitat. If you have any substrate it will blend in and become partially buried in no time - you will have to often really search to find the old exoskeleton.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I feed nymphs every day, I think the violins should have house flies at that stage, but each to his own. Welcome.

 

[randa4]

Thank you for the feeding tip. Yes, thought the BB were a little big for the L3-L4 Violins, but oddly the two or three that have been in the net cage disappeared quickly. They didn't die, so assume they were eaten. I also just got some new house fly pupae, and put some in as well. I'll watch to see what happens.