Vomit Frustration

PhilinYuma · Mar 24, 2011

Schloaty said:
I had a mantis vomit on me when I tried to feed it a firefly. Took a few bites, dropped the fly, and through up.

I tried again, a few days (and a few regular meals) later, and the same result.

I haven't tried fireflies as feeders since.

Sounds like a good idea, but remember Albuggin's Cilnia humeralis pix? Here you go!

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=14310&st=0

@Deby: I honestly don't really understand how your mantids' problem can be water related. Mantids get most of their water from their food; when you mist your containers, don't you use distilled water to prevent carbonate blotches? Do you use relatively large amounts of tap water in peat moss for passive humidification? Am I missing something?

dgerndt · Mar 25, 2011

What exactly IS distilled water: Not chlorinated? Purified? Bottled?

I ONLY use tap water WITHOUT chlorine, from a spray bottle that has only been used for water. I use clean paper towel as a substrate, with clean cotton balls to retain moisture. I add sticks from my yard for climbing, which I replace every month or so. I spray each enclosure 2 - 3 times a day, depending on if I expect a molt coming. I completely clean the enclosures every week or so.

I NEVER use water straight from the faucet for anything that may come in contact with my mantids or their food.

PhilinYuma · Mar 25, 2011

Yes. Distilled water has been evaporated and recondensed so that it contains no impurities at all. As I mentioned, those of us that use it for misting -- it costs about $1 gallon at your local supermart -- do so to avoid condensation marks (calcium carbonate) on the sides of clear plastic containers. Even if there were chlorine in your water, it would tend to be dispelled by the process of spraying. Chlorine, and its nastier cousin chloramine, tend to be a danger only to gill breathing critters like fish, where the chlorine irritates the gills. There is absolutely no evidence that I know of that the water could be a cause of your mantids' vomiting.

Are you still having a problem, or is it resolved?

dgerndt · Mar 26, 2011

Thank you for the info, Phil! You're so helpful.

My Ghost hasn't vomited since I cleaned his enclosure the second time. My remaining Gambian hasn't vomited since L1. But my mio seemed to have blockage in her abdomen (I could see a dark mass swelling mid-way), and died a few days ago. So I guess you could say my problem has been resolved.

By the way, I've still been using the same water as always.