Pale eyes and Less Active

[Kiloms]

My Blue Flash adult female usually moves some around her cage, but has not moved at all and just sits at the bottom. Her eyes were very blue about a week ago, but they have started to look foggy and less blue. Should I be concerned?

She has laid 3 full-size ootheca's, eats about two crickets a day and has moisture/water readily available.

 

[dlemmings]

hard to say this early...watch her. does she "want" out to wander about?

 

[meaganelise9]

I haven't kept a blue flash, but my mantids tend to get that way when they're old.

 

[Bryce08]

yeah as they get older eyes darken...as long as she is eating and drinking...then i would say shes A OK...just getting older, sometimes eyes will turn due to lighting as well.

 

[Kiloms]

Well she just happily caught her cricket that she dropped earlier and is eating it now. One eye is cloudier and does have some dark spots, I don't know her exact age because I received her as an adult. What is the typical lifespan of Blue Flash?

 

[Bryce08]

after last molt...depending on how much you feed her...3-5 mts?

 

[Rick]

She's likely old. And two crix a day is usually not enough food for a gravid adult female.

 

[agent A]

I agree with rick

I feed more to a gravid creo (not crix but flies) each day

Hope she pulls through

 

[brancsikia339]

I also agree with rick. I give my large female blue flashes a maximum 5 crickets a day and within 15 minutes they're all gone!! The minimum is 1 or 2.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

She's likely old. And two crix a day is usually not enough food for a gravid adult female.

I'm curious to know what you mean by two crickets a day not being enough?

 

[ismart]

She's likely old. And two crix a day is usually not enough food for a gravid adult female.

I'm curious to know what you mean by two crickets a day not being enough?

I would think this would have more to do with the size of the crickets being fed?

 

[gripen]

I would think this would have more to do with the size of the crickets being fed?

I'm curious to know what you mean by two crickets a day not being enough?

Yeah two adult crix is more than enough for most species.

 

[rs4guy]

Do you think CFL lighting will affect thier eyes? I have noticed a "dulling" in a few of my mantid sp., and I was curious if the CFl has any play to it?

 

[Kiloms]

Well they are "large" crickets. She used to gobble them down in about 5 minutes max. Now she will hold on to a cricket for at least 30min. As if she is trying to enjoy every bite. CFl? Fluorescent lighting?

 

[happy1892]

Yeah two adult crix is more than enough for most species.

I give my mantids as much as they can eat. The female Chinese Mantids I used to have ate a lot! I do not think that is enough for your female Blue Flash.

 

[Bryce08]

i think 2 is plenty per day, but i personaly feed mine as mcuh as they will eat, as long as I have the food for it.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

I would think this would have more to do with the size of the crickets being fed?

I assumed by the post they were large crickets. I am curious though on what level Rick or some of the others that posted might feel that isn't enough food. I am guessing perhaps not a diet if you want to maximize ooth production? My current girls, all adult euchomenella macrops so a decent size, get one adult cricket and then fast 2 days before their next cricket. If I am feeding smaller feeders then adult crickets, which is what I generally prefer, then they get fed every other day.

 

[rs4guy]

Well they are "large" crickets. She used to gobble them down in about 5 minutes max. Now she will hold on to a cricket for at least 30min. As if she is trying to enjoy every bite. CFl? Fluorescent lighting?

Compact fluorescents, yes. The little curly bulbs. Ive noticed dulling/spots on a few of my mantids eyes, no behavioral changes though....

 

[happy1892]

I give my mantids as much as they can eat. The female Chinese Mantids I used to have ate a lot! I do not think that is enough for your female Blue Flash.

That might be enough. I meant I think it is probably better to feed her more.