Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

mikesils · I'm new here... Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 18

My mantis doesn't seem to be eating much, i have had it a week and it is very small, the first day i had it, it had a ate a small cricket, but since then has not seemed interested in eating anything apart from 2 small flies since then. Is this ok?

mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

Yeah, that should be fine. They don't feed every day. You can see they've eaten well by having a full looking abdomen...have you got any pics, they are a lovely species Very Happy

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mikesils · I'm new here... Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 18

Thank you! I haven't got any pics yet, but i will take some and post them in the next couple of days. Am i ok to just catch flies from the garden to feed him?

zarozinia · Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject:

As said they don't eat every day.
The risk you run from catching insects in that they may have come into contact with some sort of pesticide or other harmful agent. Mind you I know a chameleon keeper that regularly caught whatever insects were flying around for their chams and they were fine.
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mikesils · I'm new here... Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 18

I did think that about the pesticide's, but he doesn't seem interested in crix!

iriechris · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 11:52 am Post subject:

Yea i think that we worry a little 2 much about our reptiles (rightfully so) but we have 2 remember that they are wild animals and there immune systems are amazing

Did you know that the majority of monitors are immune to most venomous snake bites, (i thought that was quite a fun fact)
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mcfluffin · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 21 Mar 2007 Posts: 943

Flies are a good idea. Even buy a few maggots from a tackle shop...let them pupate and hey presto! Flies galore! A lot of mantids go MAD for flying insects, so go for it. I don't think you'll find many pesticides to worry about in musca domestica (house fly), although they are one of the most resistant insects to a whole range of pesticides!
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captainmerkin · Key Member Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 400

orchid mantis never really encounter crickets in the wild so they are not ideal live food.

I used to feed mine fruit flies, blue bottles and then wasps when it was big enough to handle them.. when it was adult it would take locusts and crickets.

If it has taken one thats a good sign though and it will likely not need more for around 5 - 10 days if stretched.

Also wax moths are superb when the mantis is adult or the last two instar beforehand.

My last adult mantis only feeds once a month now and is doing fine despite living well past its time!

Bohan · Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 11:51 pm Post subject:

Captain merkins right, dont feed crickets to Hymenopus coronatus they will infect and kill it Smile

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Lynne · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 9:18 pm Post subject:

i thought it was locusts and not crickets???

nice tats bohan.
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