Orchids

[Kooldude]

I'm wondering why aren't orchids available, I know they're desired because like myself I always see people posting looking for orchids are they hard to breed, I've only been in the hobby for a year now on the exotic mantis, but never seem to be able to purchase any orchids especially since they're captive breed

 

[Crazy4mantis]

Orchids are hard to breed, and they've never been abundant in the first place. The male is so tiny that the female can eat him very easily, the male matures much quicker than the female and is often old or dead by the time the female is ready to breed, and there are rarely large hatchings of nymphs. Also, not many people even have them. I suppose sellers are not willing to let them go easily. I often see orchids selling for $75+ a pop.

 

[dmina]

Wow I was wondering this myself... Thanks

 

[Crazy4mantis]

I most often see them for sale in reptile and bug shows

 

[Rick]

Orchids are hard to breed, and they've never been abundant in the first place. The male is so tiny that the female can eat him very easily, the male matures much quicker than the female and is often old or dead by the time the female is ready to breed, and there are rarely large hatchings of nymphs. Also, not many people even have them. I suppose sellers are not willing to let them go easily. I often see orchids selling for $75+ a pop.

Sometimes they are actually plentiful. I remember years ago they were so common I was selling ooths for like $20 shipped.

I never had a problem due to the male maturing first. He was always still around when the females matured.

 

[Aryia]

Between all the species I have, orchids are actually one of the easiest to breed. The females are rather docile and I have yet to lose a male that was attempting to mate. My first ooth hatched a couple days ago, the other ooths should follow up in a month. So I'll most likely have them up for grabs then. They just like to take their time, my females are all taking 6+ weeks to lay their first ooth. I'm assuming their popularity is one of the key factors there's so little of them. The second they are posted up they are usually all sold out and compared to some other species orchids are a little more fragile.

 

[Kooldude]

I'd like to buy a few just want to put it out there,

Thanks for the info folks