Ghost mantis died suddenly??? What happen???

[Cassandravrose]

Yesterday she was moving and eating (I tong fed her a small cricket), she had no injuries on her when I checked, the temperature & humidity were good (75° F, 65%), and she's not even full grown yet (L6 or 7) There's no mold in her enclosure, I keep it clean (with distilled water) and housed her with springtails. Her enclosure is well ventilated. She has plenty to climb on (fake plants) with enough space (2 inches) to molt if she needs to. Also, I keep her with 2 other females, and those two are fine. Am I doing something wrong???
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I added a picture of her enclosure, and a picture of her

 

[Edan bandoot]

@MrGhostMantis your namesake

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Yesterday she was moving and eating (I tong fed her a small cricket), she had no injuries on her when I checked, the temperature & humidity were good (75° F, 65%), and she's not even full grown yet (L6 or 7) There's no mold in her enclosure, I keep it clean (with distilled water) and housed her with springtails. Her enclosure is well ventilated. She has plenty to climb on (fake plants) with enough space (2 inches) to molt if she needs to. Also, I keep her with 2 other females, and those two are fine. Am I doing something wrong???
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I added a picture of her enclosure, and a picture of her

Where are the crickets sourced from?

 

[Cassandravrose]

Where are the crickets sourced from?

I get them from my local Serpentarium. I usually feed my ghosts soldier flies but Serpentarium has been out so I'm temporarily feeding them crickets.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

I get them from my local Serpentarium. I usually feed my ghosts soldier flies but Serpentarium has been out so I'm temporarily feeding them crickets.

Crickets are a no-no. If not kept incredibly clean, they can harbor bacteria including a disease where if fed carrots then fed to mantids, it basically melts them from the inside out.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

I get them from my local Serpentarium. I usually feed my ghosts soldier flies but Serpentarium has been out so I'm temporarily feeding them crickets.

FYI, soldier flies also are known to harbor bacterias that kill mantids.

 

[Cassandravrose]

Oh. welp, guess I'm not buying crickets again ;-;
Do you by chance know if that can have the same effect on jumping spiders?

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Oh. welp, guess I'm not buying crickets again ;-;
Do you by chance know if that can have the same effect on jumping spiders?

They won’t really affect spiders as far as I’ve seen.

 

[Cassandravrose]

FYI, soldier flies also are known to harbor bacterias that kill mantids.

What would be the best thing I could feed my mantids?

 

[coolnweird]

Crickets are a no-no. If not kept incredibly clean, they can harbor bacteria including a disease where if fed carrots then fed to mantids, it basically melts them from the inside out.

Could you provide some evidence to back this up? Admittedly I'm no mantis expert, but I've been never heard this and would like to look into it more

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Could you provide some evidence to back this up? Admittedly I'm no mantis expert, but I've been never heard this and would like to look into it more

Join mantidforum, there are plenty of people on there who can explain it better than I.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

What would be the best thing I could feed my mantids?

Roaches and bluebottle flies.

 

[Cassandravrose]

Roaches and bluebottle flies.

Thank you!

 

[Cassandravrose]

Roaches and bluebottle flies.

Are there any other insects I shouldn't be feeding my mantis?

 

[birdonfire]

Are there any other insects I shouldn't be feeding my mantis?

Wild-caught feeders are discouraged because of possible pesticide contamination. disease, pests etc.

 

[Poonjab]

Hotdogs

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Hotdogs

Only the best feed hotdogs, I haven’t reached that point yet though