Rhombodera Basalis female sick
- Thread starter crabbypatty
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izbiggs
Well-known member
@crabbypatty I'm so sorry for your loss 
you did everything you could, and I'm sure she was very happy in your care.
you did everything you could, and I'm sure she was very happy in your care.
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crabbypatty
aka Mad Mantis
Kermit
Well-known member
@crabbypatty the only thing not mentioned in this thread is MOLD!
Poor ventilation, water and moderate to low heat and mold can show up fast.
Hard to see but definitely leathal.
Sorry for your lose CP! I've read how fond you were of these ?
Poor ventilation, water and moderate to low heat and mold can show up fast.
Hard to see but definitely leathal.
Sorry for your lose CP! I've read how fond you were of these ?
crabbypatty
aka Mad Mantis
@Kermit Hmm, perhaps it was. I was going to check her body later for signs of mold. I had her in a ten gallon aquarium turned on its side with no lid, misting once a day, maybe she needed a net cage or plastic cage to begin with. Thank you, I'll investigate and adjust for the future. Yes I love my Rhombodera! At least I have my males to keep me company for now. Thanks ?
KevinsWither
Well-known member
Kermit
Well-known member
If done properly heat leads to evaporation before mold can start.
crabbypatty
aka Mad Mantis
Kermit
Well-known member
crabbypatty
aka Mad Mantis
crabbypatty
aka Mad Mantis
Ranitomeya
Well-known member
Decreased temperatures can influence the effectiveness of their limited immune response and make them more susceptible to infection. Low ventilation is a possible culprit. With low ventilation, atmospheric spore loads can build up within an enclosure and overwhelm their immune response. The black spots are the result of their immune response taking action. Insects have a simple way of dealing with infections--cells in their blood clot around the invaders and can be seen as black spots. What you are describing sounds a lot like a bacterial infection.
Keep in mind that mealworms and superworms literally eat anything they can get nutrition from--including the dead, rotting bodies of their own kind--this is something crickets also do and it's one of the reasons they are also very poor prey if their dead are not constantly being removed. Mantises really do not do well if provided with bacteria-filled prey. Gutting is not very effective since the gut will tear as you try to remove it, releasing its contents into the body of the prey. It's connected to the exoskeleton at the anus and the mouth and there's no way to remove it without tearing and flooding the internal cavity of an insect unless you're cutting the head and the end of the abdomen off without tearing the gut and then cutting from one end to the other and lifting the intact gut out.
Keep in mind that mealworms and superworms literally eat anything they can get nutrition from--including the dead, rotting bodies of their own kind--this is something crickets also do and it's one of the reasons they are also very poor prey if their dead are not constantly being removed. Mantises really do not do well if provided with bacteria-filled prey. Gutting is not very effective since the gut will tear as you try to remove it, releasing its contents into the body of the prey. It's connected to the exoskeleton at the anus and the mouth and there's no way to remove it without tearing and flooding the internal cavity of an insect unless you're cutting the head and the end of the abdomen off without tearing the gut and then cutting from one end to the other and lifting the intact gut out.
crabbypatty
aka Mad Mantis
@Ranitomeya yeah I'm trying to keep my worms very clean, removing any dead, and replacing media often. I did buy some bb flies though, and I'll be getting dubia tomorrow. I threw away my remaining feeders and just started with some new ones just in case.
Sticky
Well-known member
You mentioned apples but not if they were organic. I give my feeders organic everything. Apples really absorb poisons and that might have contributed to her illness.
If you can find some in someone's property and they dont spray anything, your feeders would be much better for your mantids. Doesn't mean that your pets will never get sick, but it could make a difference. Apple trees are everywhere here in Maine.
Try growing other things, greens, your own potatoes in pots. Those are fun!
If you can find some in someone's property and they dont spray anything, your feeders would be much better for your mantids. Doesn't mean that your pets will never get sick, but it could make a difference. Apple trees are everywhere here in Maine.
Try growing other things, greens, your own potatoes in pots. Those are fun!
