phasmid nymphs

[superfreak]

why arent they eeeating???!!

over the past four days four nymphs have hatched out. none of them have shown any interest in any of the gum leaves ive been offering. and i only offer the freshest, softest shoots! ive been trying diff types of eucalyptus (all diff types which the adults eat with no problems) but with no success! am i jus hurrying them too much? will they start eating in a couple of days? i mean i dont mind if a few die as i have several hundred eggs (and more to come!)...oh who am i kidding? I FEEL EVERY DEATH! :lol:

 

[Peter Clausen]

New growth on plants often contains some natural deterrent to keep insects from feeding on them. Try feeding mature leaves. If the nymphs cannot start on the thicker leaves, place the nymphs in with some older phasmids that have already created bite marks. Alternatively, you can remove the partially eaten leaves from the older phasmids' terrarium and place them (without the larger phasmids) in the terrarium with the youngsters.

Hatchlings sometimes don't feed for days. A telltale sign is frass on the bottom of the cage. Bite marks on leaves may be difficult to see, but frass is much easier to notice if you place white kitchen towel (paper) on the bottom of the cage. Droppings and still-alive bugs suggest feeding is occurring.

It's possible the species you have (not named here?) doesn't feed on Eucalyptus. Nymphs are notoriously selective compared to adults.

 

[superfreak]

oh sorry theyre ETs. Spinys. so eucalypt should be right

sigh

ill try some older leaves

hope they eat soon!

 

[Peter Clausen]

Just curious...have you ever seen E.t. in the wild or other Australian phasmids?

 

[superfreak]

i used to find sticks in the wild all the time when i was younger. never any ETs. seen a titan in the wild once but other than that, no. theyre exceptionally hard to find down in sydney. i guess theyre all at the tops of the super tall eucalyptus trees!

 

[hibiscusmile]

good advice Peter!