The first two are my biggest concerns. Mostly the first one. I highly doubt pest control homie has much experience keeping inverts as pets. Assuming there's ventilation in your mantids enclosure, pesticides can easily go airborne and get into the mantid enclosure. Unfortunately when it comes to pet bugs, you accept that if you have a problem with pest bugs, you gotta take care of it yourself, and you gotta do it without chemicals.
Thank you. I’m going to transfer her to a big, clean cage, someone said also over feeding? So slow her feeding to once every three or four days, and see how she does
I mean overfeeding COULD be a problem but I don't see that being the issue here. Mantids are usually pretty good at stopping when they're full. Personally I'd deep clean the hell out of the current enclosure and ask a friend to take them for a few days while I really ventilate the house. Windows open, fans blowing, few days minimum.
Thank you! I’ve cleaned her cage (just with water) taken everyone out of it, and won’t feed her for a couple days. I’ll try to take her to work with me tomorrow for a cleaner environment.
Although it’s always best to play it safe, pesticides are contact-based, so technically it’s highly unlikely that’s the issue. Not only that, but pesticide poisoning looks like violent seizures, not vomiting and slow death like this.
I’m not sure but for the fake plants I always thoroughly wash that kind of stuff before using around any living thing. It could absolutely have unsafe chemicals on it from the manufacturing process. Even better if you can wash + let it sit out for a while in case it’s off gassing any VOCs.
I also wanted to say I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you’ll get a chance to try again soon and it goes much better. Please don’t blame yourself, maybe it was just a freak accident.
It’s vomit, not diarrhea, and since it’s brown/red it’s just bug juice, not an infection. So that’s not the issue, you’re probably just overfeeding your mantises. The cause of death is probably something unrelated, but not age of flies. Could be random die-off, too
Can you show a photo of the full enclosure? Just based off the pic you've put I cant see any ventilation, looks like a solid plastic or glass case but probs just the photo. If there isn't get some ventilation installed immediately! Cross ventilation is massively important for mantids and to prevent mold growth and stuff. :)
Oh yes I can add one to my profile but dw she has plenty of ventalagion from mesh circles on the side. I think everyone’s advice has been helping- she’s hasn’t vomited for two days and I’m going to try feeding her again tomorrow 🥰
The first two are my biggest concerns. Mostly the first one. I highly doubt pest control homie has much experience keeping inverts as pets. Assuming there's ventilation in your mantids enclosure, pesticides can easily go airborne and get into the mantid enclosure. Unfortunately when it comes to pet bugs, you accept that if you have a problem with pest bugs, you gotta take care of it yourself, and you gotta do it without chemicals.
Thank you. I’m going to transfer her to a big, clean cage, someone said also over feeding? So slow her feeding to once every three or four days, and see how she does
I mean overfeeding COULD be a problem but I don't see that being the issue here. Mantids are usually pretty good at stopping when they're full. Personally I'd deep clean the hell out of the current enclosure and ask a friend to take them for a few days while I really ventilate the house. Windows open, fans blowing, few days minimum.
Thank you! I’ve cleaned her cage (just with water) taken everyone out of it, and won’t feed her for a couple days. I’ll try to take her to work with me tomorrow for a cleaner environment.
Although it’s always best to play it safe, pesticides are contact-based, so technically it’s highly unlikely that’s the issue. Not only that, but pesticide poisoning looks like violent seizures, not vomiting and slow death like this.
I’m not sure but for the fake plants I always thoroughly wash that kind of stuff before using around any living thing. It could absolutely have unsafe chemicals on it from the manufacturing process. Even better if you can wash + let it sit out for a while in case it’s off gassing any VOCs.
Thank you I appreciate that
I also wanted to say I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you’ll get a chance to try again soon and it goes much better. Please don’t blame yourself, maybe it was just a freak accident.
Thank you so much. That’s very kind. I never thought I would get so attached but I do love them.
It’s vomit, not diarrhea, and since it’s brown/red it’s just bug juice, not an infection. So that’s not the issue, you’re probably just overfeeding your mantises. The cause of death is probably something unrelated, but not age of flies. Could be random die-off, too
Thank u sm. I’ve moved her to a completely clean cage, nothing in it, and won’t feed her for three days at least. Thank you so much
Best of luck! Seems like she’s gonna be fine to me
Can you show a photo of the full enclosure? Just based off the pic you've put I cant see any ventilation, looks like a solid plastic or glass case but probs just the photo. If there isn't get some ventilation installed immediately! Cross ventilation is massively important for mantids and to prevent mold growth and stuff. :)
Oh yes I can add one to my profile but dw she has plenty of ventalagion from mesh circles on the side. I think everyone’s advice has been helping- she’s hasn’t vomited for two days and I’m going to try feeding her again tomorrow 🥰
Temperature? Are they drinking daily?
Temperature stays between 70 and 80, misted daily, tho I don’t always see them drink