Orchid Mantis

[utterbeastage]

Can they be kept communal?
think I'm going to treat myself to three seeing as my congo green will be away on a breeding loan for a while

[Ozgi]

Not really, best to keep them seperate! Mine are ferocious feeders and will go for anything that moves near them, lol.

[utterbeastage]

Originally Posted by Ozgi

Not really, best to keep them seperate! Mine are ferocious feeders and will go for anything that moves near them, lol.

that's what I was thinking , how did you keep yours in the nymph stages and when did you start using netting?

[Ozgi]

I got mine at L4 I think. Kept them in plastic pint pots with a stick in and netting over the top, then I moved them into sweet jars when they got a bit bigger.

They are just as easy to look after as all the others!

[utterbeastage]

Originally Posted by Ozgi

I got mine at L4 I think. Kept them in plastic pint pots with a stick in and netting over the top, then I moved them into sweet jars when they got a bit bigger.

They are just as easy to look after as all the others!

ahh I thought they were to be kept in all-mesh enclosure like the Idolo , that's even less for me to worry about actually, what sort of heating tepms/times do you give them?

I'll be fine food-wise , my catfood trap is STILL going

[Ozgi]

Lol, that trap has been going for ages! I tried one with catfood in and it went mouldy, then got full of rainwater and absolutely stank so I threw it away, didn't manage to catch anything, lol.

All my mantids are in the same room as my reps so it is about 25-26c in there. You can keep them cooler than that though. If you want to breed them then keep the male a lot cooler than the female and feed him a lot less.

Have only fed mine on flies as I have heard crickets can be bad for them and don't want to risk it.

[utterbeastage]

Originally Posted by Ozgi

Lol, that trap has been going for ages! I tried one with catfood in and it went mouldy, then got full of rainwater and absolutely stank so I threw it away, didn't manage to catch anything, lol.

All my mantids are in the same room as my reps so it is about 25-26c in there. You can keep them cooler than that though. If you want to breed them then keep the male a lot cooler than the female and feed him a lot less.

Have only fed mine on flies as I have heard crickets can be bad for them and don't want to risk it.

ive never heard of it going mouldy , what brand are you using , an dit is cans or sachets?
I just pour in a whole sachet every 3/4 days , make sure it's sitting in a sunny spot and it should dry out a little , usually if it's really watery the flies drown , or get soaked in it and are refused by by mantids haha.
cant wait till they arrive, Ill order them tomorrow I think.
surely my chances of getting a sexed pair are good if I'm ordering three of them - I'd love to breed them

[Ozgi]

I think I'll give the trap a miss for a while, I can't stand that smell again, lol. I used whiskas pouches! I have a good system going now of getting maggots from the fishing shop, then buying more before those ones hatch out, ensures I always have flies available, lol.

You could ask the seller before you buy them if they can sex them for you. Would be a bummer to get 3 males! There are 10 for sale on the classifieds for £67, I would go halves with you on them but a bit skint at the mo!

Apparently they are really hard to breed as the females have a habit of becoming egg bound, but its always worth a try.

[utterbeastage]

Originally Posted by Ozgi

I think I'll give the trap a miss for a while, I can't stand that smell again, lol. I used whiskas pouches! I have a good system going now of getting maggots from the fishing shop, then buying more before those ones hatch out, ensures I always have flies available, lol.

You could ask the seller before you buy them if they can sex them for you. Would be a bummer to get 3 males! There are 10 for sale on the classifieds for £67, I would go halves with you on them but a bit skint at the mo!

Apparently they are really hard to breed as the females have a habit of becoming egg bound, but its always worth a try.

that's a really good deal , I'm on a bit of a budget too , just paid for a holiday there , Ill email him now
same pouches I was using , although Ill have to get a system going too because it'll be getting colder in a few months and there wont be half as much flies about

[Amoa123]

this might be a stupid question but whats the trap for i dont ahve any mantids but hopefully get some in the future