Mantids

Mujician · #1 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 01:12 PM

Just a quick, general question. LArge sweet jar (the kind you get from old fashioned sweet shops. Would this be suitable for all mantids or would some get too big to be kept in it and require a bigger enclosure? Also - when a mantid needs some experience, to be kept - what kind of things are implied? Surely if you stick to everything on the care sheet - nothing could go wrong (apart from the inevitable bad shed that occasionaly occurs. Ben (Oh, and whos the best person to speak to about buying a mantid ir two?!)

matt020593 · #2 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 06:18 PM

Hey. I think solong as you read up on the species ALOT and know you can care for it, you should be ok, though I would stay away from hard to get species like Orchid mantids. A large sweet jar should be fine for most adult mantids(excluding Idolomantis Diabolica) though some will require a smaller enclosure, it is best to start off in a smaller cage and then build up. What speices were thinking of?
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There are usually a few species for sale in the classifieds. Or try eBay.

Matt

Mujician · #3 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 06:30 PM

Whats the common name of Idolomantis Diabolica? Is it one of the devils mantids? OKay - so what would a beginner be lookin gto put into two sweet jars? I want pretty ones - two different species. I like the target mantis. I think i might get a giant asian too. What do you think?

matt020593 · #4 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 06:53 PM

Yeah its the devils flower mantis .I have psuedocreobotra Wahlbergii(flower mantis) and they are a very pretty species and aren't very hard to keep, they would easily live in one of them jars as adult but would need smaller ones as they grow up. Here is a caresheet - Pseudocreobotra Wahlbergii (Spiny Flower Mantis) caresheet - Insectchat :: Insect discussion forums. Talk about mantids, stick insects, beetles, snails, tarantulas, and much more!
Below is one of my female sub adults.

Matt.

Mujician · #5 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 07:06 PM

Why does it need to be in something smaller?

stuartdouglas · #6 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 07:51 PM

Graham Smith Entrance has a good selection. A good one to start with would be Heirodula membranacea (Giant Asian) grows to about 100mm, really bright green, eats what ever you give it and is easy to look after, only needs room temp and a misting a couple of times a week and an old fashioned sweetie jar would be perfect for its adult life. Whatever you keep them in, ensure that they have at least three times their length in height of container, this will allow them to shed ok and not get all bent out of shape. The reason for keeping them in smaller containers when they are nymphs is to allow them to catch their food more easily.

stuart89 · #7 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 08:01 PM

Just ordered an African Mantis (Sphodromantis lineola) as my first. Costs £3 + £2.50 P&P. Depending on how it goes, depends on what others I get, theres a few I really want (Ghost, Orchid -altho rare- and flower mantis).

Rob Byatt on Mantidforum is selling Africans if you wanted to get some.

Stuart.

matt020593 · #8 (**permalink**) 23-03-2008, 09:48 PM

It needs a smaller cage when its little because it won't find its food in a large sweet jar. A half pint plastic cup is fine until pre-sub-adult. Then a pint plastic cup, then the large sweet jar when adult.

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