Mantis

[AmysAnimals]

So ever since joining this board and keeping tarantulas I've been interested in other things such as mantises and millipedes. Especially mantises (is it mantises or mantids?) anyways I really am thinking hard about getting a mantis or two. What I would like to know is where can I get information on mantises that I can get in the USA? I saw bugs in cyberspace has some but what other mantises are out there and what would I need to know about keeping them?

[poisoned]

I'm not very experienced on a subject, but had a pair last year and can share my experience.

I had a religiosa, got them in september (stupid, because they are seasonal), I had a 12x12x12 terratium with Rubus fruticosus plant inside. I kinda experimented (they are cannibalistic) and put both a male and female together in terrarium. They mated a few hours after I got them and mated many times afterwards. Female was never aggresive to him, however, she never produced a ooteca. I had a screen cover for them and sprayed water about two times a week on side of terrarium. I probably did something wrong, since they both died of similar death and I think too early. First male stopped eating, started climbing up and falling down then lost it's powers and died. Female died of similar death. I couldn't find many resources at the time, so I was just guessing how to care for them (they live near me, so I tried to copy nature).

[catfishrod69]

I love mantids. But i tried to keep some native ones. I found two oothecae, and hatched them out. Had around a 100 babies. They were eating like crazy, drinking great, but dieing as fast as their food was. The very last survivor made it to L3, but died the next day. I suggest getting a ooth out of a field somewhere, and trying with native ones first. That way you dont have to spend much money getting used to how to keep them. Plural is mantids.

[AmysAnimals]

Thanks! I haven't seen any around yet but I'm sure they'll come. I know I've read they don't have very long lifespans but I think they are gorgeous creatures and I would love to see them eat! =)

[Shrike]

Mantids make fascinating pets. Many species (including our native ones) need fairly high humidity in order to molt successfully. Lack of humidity leads to many molt related deaths.

http://mantisplace.com/index.htm

The website above sells many native and non-native species, as well as husbandry equipment. Check out the species list. I guarantee you'll want them all

[AmysAnimals]

Thank you!

[RS4guy]

Sounds like they died of old age, as adults they usually only live a few months. Conditions sounded fine besides keeping the pair together.

[poisoned]

Sounds like they died of old age, as adults they usually only live a few months. Conditions sounded fine besides keeping the pair together.

They looked pretty happy together, they mated once every few days