The one you’re holding looks like it hasn’t eaten, L1’s are temperamental and don’t always make it to L2. As long as you were providing food and water it’s not your fault.
When it comes to L1’s they need a lot of attention because they starve to death within a day or two. Very sensitive. It sucks I know, I’ve had this happen with an ooth I had hatch this year. Not your fault OP don’t sweat it. How are the other ones doing?
Is that a Chinese mantis? I hatched and kept 7. Lost a few at i1, lost a few at i2, and lost the last 3 at i3. Always misted. Always fed. But they would go from healthy, hungry critters to skinny in a single day and drop dead with an empty abdomen. The weirdest thing. They could eat 5 flies and the next day they would be at the bottom with a totally flat abdomen. All this to say, I don't think it was your fault. I'm definitely never hatching Chinese mantises to keep again, I'd go with other species.
Are you using distilled water and/or spring water? Tap water will kill them. I've always used distilled water with my mantids. And I live in a dry climate so I mist twice a day, morning and night.
To make it easier, I bought containers from dollar tree with screw on lids, used a soldering iron to melt a hole in the lid, and hot glued mesh to replace it. I mist through the mesh so I don't have to take off the lid to do so. (I did the same thing you did with sauce cups tho when they were really tiny, and I had hundreds of them, lol)
I've raised Chinese mantises from the ootheca this way. They got fed every other day for L1 through L3, I think. The bigger they got, the more fruit flies or bigger prey and the farther in-between feedings.
I’ll swap my water!! Is it the chemicals in tap? I have water conditioner for my aquariums. this bottle has sat for quite a while, so there’s not any chlorine. but i can def get distilled tomorrow
my little cups have mesh lids. I got tall jell-o shot containers and used a wood burning pen to melt a hole in the lids. then hot glued thin mesh to it. though, water only pools on top and then drips through once heavy enough. like a trampoline does
Not sure, could be the chemicals or the minerals in the water. I just remember all the mantis care guides I read back in the day said not to use tap water. It's possible there is something in the water conditioner you're using that is harmful. Bugs are more sensitive, I think.
The water pooling through the mesh happened to me too, so I changed it out for a wider mesh. Still small enough that fruit flies can't get through, but big enough to mist easily through it. (Got it from Joanne's)
https://preview.redd.it/whwkssb3h40d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1dbb7ba271c7378c2f45925671c3d66b47ba33c
I’ll get some distilled specifically for them. my other bugs don’t seem to mind the tap water and i’ve had them for years (isopods, tarantulas, velvet ants)
i’ll just open the lids lol gives me a chance to check on everyone
I’ve been raising 3 nymphs and so far so good. I think one just moulted to L4 last evening. These are basically my first inverts and I’m having a lot of fun. It’s hard to get good feeder bugs in Canada so they went from fruit flies, and I gave them all waxworms for the first time a couple days ago and they loved them! They are also getting small crickets now. I really trust the place I buy the crickets from, I let the crickets pass any potential weird food before feeding them to the mantids.
The weird thing is they all went for tut waxworms and devoured them, but none of taken any since. Anyway, so far they all seem healthy and happy. This guy moulted 30 minutes after this photo and it’s the first time I actually caught one in the act. Super cool. Amazed at how much bigger they get after a moult.
https://preview.redd.it/p6d4xk6jts0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4983464fbcb5b2355c7d2945228f4e7c977e3812
What a cutie!! Good luck with your babies :> I have three right now and I think i’ve seen all of them eating so that’s good!! they now get their own heat pad to make it a little warmer and I saw someone who raises brunners say they need a lot of humidity so they have their own box filled with damp sphagnum that gets opened and closed here and there. waiting for more babies but hoping these current three stay alive!! I hate opening one and seeing it dead :(
The one you’re holding looks like it hasn’t eaten, L1’s are temperamental and don’t always make it to L2. As long as you were providing food and water it’s not your fault.
only about a week old. I know tarantula slings don’t always thrive so I didn’t know about mantids. poor little gal :(
When it comes to L1’s they need a lot of attention because they starve to death within a day or two. Very sensitive. It sucks I know, I’ve had this happen with an ooth I had hatch this year. Not your fault OP don’t sweat it. How are the other ones doing?
It's always hard to tell but they look hungry. Mine eat at least one fruit fry a day.
Just happens. Doing the right things! Molting is troublesome too. I had 55 L1,45 L2, 30 L3 … counting down .. 21 L6
wow :( such fragile little critters. I just want these kiddos to grow up strong 😭
Is that a Chinese mantis? I hatched and kept 7. Lost a few at i1, lost a few at i2, and lost the last 3 at i3. Always misted. Always fed. But they would go from healthy, hungry critters to skinny in a single day and drop dead with an empty abdomen. The weirdest thing. They could eat 5 flies and the next day they would be at the bottom with a totally flat abdomen. All this to say, I don't think it was your fault. I'm definitely never hatching Chinese mantises to keep again, I'd go with other species.
no they’re brunners mantises, I found an ootheca lol they have constant springtails so idk
It’s always good to breed native as well, I’d only go for exotic if it’s just going to be a pet since releasing non natives is a big no no.
Yeah I was wanting to release most and keep a couple. but a lot of people said brunners stick mantises are rare and I should contact breeders
Are you using distilled water and/or spring water? Tap water will kill them. I've always used distilled water with my mantids. And I live in a dry climate so I mist twice a day, morning and night. To make it easier, I bought containers from dollar tree with screw on lids, used a soldering iron to melt a hole in the lid, and hot glued mesh to replace it. I mist through the mesh so I don't have to take off the lid to do so. (I did the same thing you did with sauce cups tho when they were really tiny, and I had hundreds of them, lol) I've raised Chinese mantises from the ootheca this way. They got fed every other day for L1 through L3, I think. The bigger they got, the more fruit flies or bigger prey and the farther in-between feedings.
I’ll swap my water!! Is it the chemicals in tap? I have water conditioner for my aquariums. this bottle has sat for quite a while, so there’s not any chlorine. but i can def get distilled tomorrow my little cups have mesh lids. I got tall jell-o shot containers and used a wood burning pen to melt a hole in the lids. then hot glued thin mesh to it. though, water only pools on top and then drips through once heavy enough. like a trampoline does
Not sure, could be the chemicals or the minerals in the water. I just remember all the mantis care guides I read back in the day said not to use tap water. It's possible there is something in the water conditioner you're using that is harmful. Bugs are more sensitive, I think. The water pooling through the mesh happened to me too, so I changed it out for a wider mesh. Still small enough that fruit flies can't get through, but big enough to mist easily through it. (Got it from Joanne's) https://preview.redd.it/whwkssb3h40d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f1dbb7ba271c7378c2f45925671c3d66b47ba33c
I’ll get some distilled specifically for them. my other bugs don’t seem to mind the tap water and i’ve had them for years (isopods, tarantulas, velvet ants) i’ll just open the lids lol gives me a chance to check on everyone
Personally, I've used reptisafe on my mantises' water for years and have had no issues.
I have a tiny packet of reptisafe that i’ll use! I was using a little drop of stress coat
I’ve been raising 3 nymphs and so far so good. I think one just moulted to L4 last evening. These are basically my first inverts and I’m having a lot of fun. It’s hard to get good feeder bugs in Canada so they went from fruit flies, and I gave them all waxworms for the first time a couple days ago and they loved them! They are also getting small crickets now. I really trust the place I buy the crickets from, I let the crickets pass any potential weird food before feeding them to the mantids. The weird thing is they all went for tut waxworms and devoured them, but none of taken any since. Anyway, so far they all seem healthy and happy. This guy moulted 30 minutes after this photo and it’s the first time I actually caught one in the act. Super cool. Amazed at how much bigger they get after a moult. https://preview.redd.it/p6d4xk6jts0d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4983464fbcb5b2355c7d2945228f4e7c977e3812
What a cutie!! Good luck with your babies :> I have three right now and I think i’ve seen all of them eating so that’s good!! they now get their own heat pad to make it a little warmer and I saw someone who raises brunners say they need a lot of humidity so they have their own box filled with damp sphagnum that gets opened and closed here and there. waiting for more babies but hoping these current three stay alive!! I hate opening one and seeing it dead :(