Orchid mantis and molting

[ZIV]

Hi new to fourm had an l3 orchid mantis died molting but maintained a consistent 80-85f and about 75-90% humidity any thoughts to why she might have died?

 

[KevinsWither]

I heard that there might not be enough vents in the enclosure. What have you fed it? What is the enclosure like? Did she molt too low?

 

[CosbyArt]

@ZIV From the little information you posted it could be one of two problems.

One problem that can happen no matter the level of husbandry care, some nymphs can get the lobes on their legs caught during molting, that traps them in the old exoskeleton.

However, with your extremely high humidity of up to 90%, the humidity was most likely the cause. As listed in the care sheet they need to be kept at 60-80% RH. Humidity on the drier side for nymphs for successful molting, and the higher humidity range for adults.  At L3 the nymph should have been in the 60% range to maybe 70% at most, so the nymph could pull itself free during molting. With age the humidity is increased a bit with each molt until they are adults.

 

[ZIV]

I fed her fruit flys at the time and the humidity stayed in the range of what Peter Clauson i think i spelled that right had told me to keep it at so i dont really know so maybe just unlucky

 

[CosbyArt]

I fed her fruit flys at the time and the humidity stayed in the range of what Peter Clauson i think i spelled that right had told me to keep it at so i dont really know so maybe just unlucky

Well Peter Clausen has been keeping them for many many years and knows what he is talking about. If he suggested that high of humidity for the Orchid mantis, then it sounds like the care sheets should be updated.

Indeed even beyond the walking legs potential lobe problem, there are other problems that could have caused the death that are common to all mantids. I would chalk it up to experience, and try again.

 

[ZIV]

Ok thanks