bubforever
Well-known member
i just got an orchid nympth L4 now, over mail delivery and have been trying to feed it flightless fruit flies. Yet my mantis either is just having a hard time catching them or is it just refusing them?
orchid problem
- Thread starter bubforever
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OGIGA
Dead Leaf Mantis
I have read that mantises will scare away their prey if they don't want to eat. It's usually a sign that they will molt soon. However, in my experience, it's not always a sign of molting. They'll probably start eating later anyway.
bubforever
Well-known member
really those seem a bit big but i'll try, thanks.
No worry, Orchid mantis will attack prey their own size, but i would recommend house fly right now. If they are not interested with house fly, that's the sign of molting.
bubforever
Well-known member
The problem is that it just molted a few days ago, doesn't it take awhile to molt again?
In this case, your orchid is not refusing food because of molting, but the size of prey. Your orchid nymph needs a larger prey like moth, dampserfly, house fly, etc. She will only molt again when she contiues to feed and grow larger. The next molt may take as little as 10-14 days when well fed.
bubforever
Well-known member
i dont really have access to those right now due to weather, im trying to use small crickets, (i read about some of the problems with crickets) but even though they are about the same size as her, she won't take them. What else could i try that's availible?
bubforever
Well-known member
will they eat mealworms or waxworms?
I doubt they will go after them but you can take a cricket, smash it's head and make some juice come out. Using tweezers put the smashed cricket up to the mantids mouth. Oftentimes they will start eating and grab a hold of it. Same could work with the worm.
bubforever
Well-known member
just tried that and it appeared to somewhat work. At least he got something in him. Thanks for the tips.
i know mine were never confident taking a cricket a smaller than themselves but would eagerly take a fly bigger than themselves
also i did once put waxworm in the jar with them and at least one of them came down from the top pretty much straight away and tucked in and the other definately showwed interest just cant remember if the second one did take it
also i did once put waxworm in the jar with them and at least one of them came down from the top pretty much straight away and tucked in and the other definately showwed interest just cant remember if the second one did take it
I fed mine with mealworms before, and the orchid nymphs finished the whole thing! Bottom line is, they will take any food - even with hand feed -especially if they are hungary. It is what's best for them that is important.
bubforever
Well-known member
yep my mantids anerexic ways paid off he died.
bubforever
Well-known member
and i dont mean paid off in a good way
