Thank you, I have a subadult in premoult, i thought that was what's happening, but it's been a few days since she started looking like she was going to moult, and I thought it should've happened by now, and I was starting to get nervous of it!
Seeing this video is two years old, probably won't hear back but just in case. My partners Orchid Mantis molted a week ago almost and still hasn't eaten anything. It's small so not fully grown. It's leg got caught in it's molt and it isn't using it's leg now. Is that a cause for them to not eat? My partner is worries they are dying :(
Hello! hope your little one started eating, often they take a few days to harden up enough to eat, but also a mismolt can not be quite as obvious, such as the tracheal tubes getting stuck. Usually a leg isn't as much of an issue, unless it gets an infection, which is a risk that can increase with high / constant humidity. I usually try to offer a drop of honey/water/nutritional yeast on a toothpick as a boost if it has been more than a week after a molt and still no interest in food. Hope that helps, sorry to hear you are having issues!
I really enjoyed this video. Quick question though, roughly how long is it between each molt? I have a 3rd instar orchid mantis and I like to watch them molt
Hello, thanks for watching! That answer is tricky, as it is dependent on temp and food, but I have found the molt between L2-L3 takes under 2 weeks, L3-4 takes about 2 or so weeks, and those numbers slowly stretch out until the last molt takes more than a month or so. Also I have found if they have an injury, such as losing a leg during molt, they take longer to molt the next time. Thanks again enjoy your lil orchid baby!
@@ArthropodAmbassadors Thank you for the reply, that is very helpful, I feed large fruit flies around every 2-3 days at the moment depending on how full he/she looks. I also have 2 ghost mantis and they took around 7 weeks to molt from L4-5
I would say orchids are pretty easy, just need a mist each week to keep humidity up. Spiny are a little finicky, I have had some drop dead out of nowhere with the same care as ones that thrive! They seem to like it a bit drier. They are both rather expensive, another reason some would say 'not beginner species' but I think they make a great pet with pretty minimal effort! Thanks
If your looking to own a good beginner/hardier species I’d suggest the Tenodera sinensis (the giant Chinese mantis). They are pretty good at tolerating temperature and humidity differences. Also have had a lot less miss molts with this species. Plus they get to be a pretty decent size with great aggressive behavior when hunting!
Great question! It is most important to have misted a few days in a row before molting has happened, as the mantises internal humidity and moisture levels are important for successfully shedding their old skin, but misting during the event isn't as helpful, and may complicate things. I find med-high humidity without moisture drops is the best setting for a good molt.
They can either be found by a predator while molting and unable to protect themselves or they can get stuck in their shed and pass away that way, So there are a few dangers that can get them when they're molting.
They will turn more pink sometimes when closer to a molt, but often the super pink ones you'll see online are using a filter to enhance it. I have had a few females blush when in premolt but revert back to mostly white afterwards.
Thank you, I have a subadult in premoult, i thought that was what's happening, but it's been a few days since she started looking like she was going to moult, and I thought it should've happened by now, and I was starting to get nervous of it!
yep, those few days before molting can for sure cause high anxiety!
This video should have a lot more views. Excellent video 👍🏽
Great video! I can't wait to get my orchid next month. In the meantime it was molt week here apparently. 3 out of my 4 mantises moltet successfully :)
Orchids are darlings! The crown jewel of the mantis world! Easier than Devils Flower, thats for sure!
Your voice is so soothing. Every time my mantis looks like it’s about to molt I come back to this video
Shedding videos are interesting to see.
Thanks for this video, it's hard to find accurate info on the actual molting process. After the molt how long should you leave before feeding ?
they will eat when there ready but usually a few days
Seeing this video is two years old, probably won't hear back but just in case. My partners Orchid Mantis molted a week ago almost and still hasn't eaten anything. It's small so not fully grown. It's leg got caught in it's molt and it isn't using it's leg now. Is that a cause for them to not eat? My partner is worries they are dying :(
Hello! hope your little one started eating, often they take a few days to harden up enough to eat, but also a mismolt can not be quite as obvious, such as the tracheal tubes getting stuck. Usually a leg isn't as much of an issue, unless it gets an infection, which is a risk that can increase with high / constant humidity. I usually try to offer a drop of honey/water/nutritional yeast on a toothpick as a boost if it has been more than a week after a molt and still no interest in food. Hope that helps, sorry to hear you are having issues!
I really enjoyed this video. Quick question though, roughly how long is it between each molt? I have a 3rd instar orchid mantis and I like to watch them molt
Hello, thanks for watching! That answer is tricky, as it is dependent on temp and food, but I have found the molt between L2-L3 takes under 2 weeks, L3-4 takes about 2 or so weeks, and those numbers slowly stretch out until the last molt takes more than a month or so. Also I have found if they have an injury, such as losing a leg during molt, they take longer to molt the next time. Thanks again enjoy your lil orchid baby!
@@ArthropodAmbassadors Thank you for the reply, that is very helpful, I feed large fruit flies around every 2-3 days at the moment depending on how full he/she looks. I also have 2 ghost mantis and they took around 7 weeks to molt from L4-5
my orcid mantis is about to molt to
So how many total molts do females orchids go through?
Wow
How long do they hang for before they actually start molting
They slow down about a day before, seems to be between 12-24 hours until they molt. this one started in the morning and molted around midnight
i have been thinking about getting a spiny flower mantis or a orchid mantis but i heard that they aren’t for bigginers can explain that a little more
I would say orchids are pretty easy, just need a mist each week to keep humidity up. Spiny are a little finicky, I have had some drop dead out of nowhere with the same care as ones that thrive! They seem to like it a bit drier. They are both rather expensive, another reason some would say 'not beginner species' but I think they make a great pet with pretty minimal effort! Thanks
If your looking to own a good beginner/hardier species I’d suggest the Tenodera sinensis (the giant Chinese mantis). They are pretty good at tolerating temperature and humidity differences. Also have had a lot less miss molts with this species. Plus they get to be a pretty decent size with great aggressive behavior when hunting!
When molting, should you mist them or just leave it completely alone ?
Great question! It is most important to have misted a few days in a row before molting has happened, as the mantises internal humidity and moisture levels are important for successfully shedding their old skin, but misting during the event isn't as helpful, and may complicate things. I find med-high humidity without moisture drops is the best setting for a good molt.
@@ArthropodAmbassadors thank you so much for the helpful information. I just received two orchid mantis nymphs two days ago. So beautiful
So its like this some of the mantises who molted theres a chance that they will die or survive?
They can either be found by a predator while molting and unable to protect themselves or they can get stuck in their shed and pass away that way, So there are a few dangers that can get them when they're molting.
@@ArthropodAmbassadors ohhh ok
@@ArthropodAmbassadors thx for responding
Hey sis, how do you turn their colour to pink?
They will turn more pink sometimes when closer to a molt, but often the super pink ones you'll see online are using a filter to enhance it. I have had a few females blush when in premolt but revert back to mostly white afterwards.
Pink hair dye
Wow