baby spiny leaf insects dying

[blueskids]

Last year we were given 2 large female spiny leaf insects, that started producing eggs straight away. Later we were given another female and male.
unfortunately they all died over the summer (not sure how old they were, or if it was us, or our house sitter, or the really hot weather.....)
But we had a container full of eggs.
Over the last 10 days, we have had 1 to 3 new ones born every day. Unfortunately they also seem to be dying after a few days. The oldest died after a week, when we found it in the water container (for the leaves).
does anyone have any suggestions to help us keep them alive??
at the moment we have about 14 still alive.
Olivia (12yrs), Lachlan (10yrs) and Izaak (8yrs)

[martin]

Are they eating yet? I feed mine rose leaves because they are soft - even for the adults. I lose most before or during the first moult but after that they are easy to keep.
Consider airflow, moisture and poisons like fly spray.

I believe that many captive bred sticks are imbred, mating with their siblings over generations and producing weak blood lines.
I breed butterflies and have to introduce new breeding stock, preferably wild, otherwise the caterpillars easily die.
The eggs produced by your new pair may be stronger.
These are only opinions as I am not an expert
Good luck

[bugsy]

what are you feeding them on?
if you are using big gum leaves, you can try cutting around the edges of the leaves or just pinch bits out.
This can help them find a spot easy to start on.

[blueskids]

we are feeding them gum leaves, and have seen the bigger ones eat them. I think some of them are drowing as the kids are a little too enthusiastic with the spray bottle, and another one some how fell into the water container - even though we got a new one with a lid.
But overall we have lost only a few more in the last couple of days. And we now have more hatching than dying.
we will try them with rose leaves, and also try cutting around the edges of the leaves.
wondering if the sudden cold change may also be affecting them?

I believe they are several generations of being captive bred. so might see if we can get some new stock (all the ones last year came from the same person- so were probably also siblings)

the kids are looking forward to seeing them moult, and hopefully we will have at least a few survive.

[bugsy]

if you have gum leaves , do not spray them at all.
They will get all they need from the leaves.