Feeding mantids

gecko_steve · #1 (**permalink**) 27-10-2008, 10:54 PM

I got my giant asian mantids from shep1979 last week and they are looking fine.
My question is how do you guys feed yours. Ive been putting 2 small locusts in every few days and the female actually ate one the otherday but I've not seen the male eat and she hasn't eaten since. Now I thought they actually hunted down their food but they just stay on the top of the tank. The female only caught her locust cuz i moved the pot and she fell down and the locust was in front of her. Any tips?

Dungbug · #2 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 12:25 AM

My Asian Giant spends alot of her time on the top of her Exo, the locusts go up there & that's when she grabs them. I haven't seen her 'hunt' as such, just using a bit of stealth until they're close enough. Is your male due a shed? Might be why he off his food (only a guess). Shep or Macro Junkie might be able to advise a bit better on this.
Got any photo's?

gecko_steve · #3 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 12:51 AM

I put a wax moth in there yesterday and he has just eaten it.

chondro13 · #4 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 12:54 AM

was gonna say - if their anythin like my mantids that spends all their time on the top, they will only really eat stuff that crosses its path - i.e. flying things of suitable size!

good luck with your little guys

macro junkie · #5 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gecko_steve

. Now I thought they actually hunted down their food but they just stay on the top of the tank?

depends how hungry they are and what species it is..I haven't had giant Asian for a long time but from what i can remember they stayed at the top of the tank waiting for the food to come to them...

Rhombodera basalis - Giant Malaysian Shield Mantis which i recently got..there 1 species that will hunt and run after food.its very cool to watch..if you get the chance pick up a couple,,they grow nearly as big as the giant Asian but are alot more active and have a big shield on there back..

Pretty much all mantids spend there time clinging on to the underside of the netting unless is species like bark mantis which spend most of there time clinging on to sticks.....

check the shield forming on this subadult male

Javeo · #6 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 10:33 AM

I keep one male asian mantis loose on a house plant and he feeds on pre-killed from tweezers. Alot easier, and i know he's eaten.

PSYCHOSIS · #7 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 10:39 AM

My mantis eat flys at the moment as there only small

macro junkie · #8 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Javeo

I keep one male asian mantis loose on a house plant and he feeds on pre-killed from tweezers. Alot easier, and i know he's eaten.

give it 3-4 weeks of being adult and he wont stay put if u have a female on heat in the same room.he will be flying off trying to find her..males can detect the females pheromone from over 100 meters away.

Tan · #9 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 11:00 AM

Personally I had feed all mine then I know they have eaten. If this is a little nerve racking especially for the larger mantids try using a tweezers but I have had no problems with feeding.

shep1979 · #10 (**permalink**) 28-10-2008, 12:22 PM

they might be coming up for a shed as they go off there food for a few day before they shed

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