Praying Mantis

Scuzi · 25 Jun 2006 at 17:35

I remember a couple of years ago quite a few members from here all bought praying mantids on an impulse. They looked like quite cool pets and I want to get one. I remember that most people who bought them got them from a website that provided an entire kit for something like £35.

Anyone know the site? I've been looking on the net and fancy either an african or a thai one, they look quite cool

Scuzi · 25 Jun 2006 at 19:08

http://www.faunology.co.uk/shop/product.php?productid=19394&cat=251&page=1

I've just bought one of those with all the kit for £35 inc. P&P. Can't wait :cool:

Scuzi · 25 Jun 2006 at 20:38

pugster said:
erm ,how have you paid £35 ? the tank you need is only 3.99 and the mantis 9.99 ,that mantis needs no heat mat etc (not sure what kit you have paid for)
anyhow, i guess its an easy (but expensive) way for a first time keeper, any questions you have let me know, ive been keeping-breeding when possible -different species for about 4 yrs now.

I didn't get a heat mat but the postage was £12 as it weighed over 2Kg so the mantis, tank, vermiculite, and temp & humidity gauges came to £20 something.

I'm sure I'll have plenty of questions! How often do you feed yours?

Scuzi · 25 Jun 2006 at 20:54

Nice one

I'm told I can feed them houseflys, spiders, bees, wasps, ants and about any other household insect I find. Is it best to get a box of crickets as well though?
I didn't know they could bite! I doubt they could do much damage though. When handling them do they just sit on your hand? I wouldn't want it to jump off or fly away with me having to try to catch it again.

Thanks for the advice

Scuzi · 27 Jun 2006 at 20:51

I got the mantis today, it's quite a cool little thing, it just hangs off the roof of the tank

I ordered some crickets to feed it but they haven't arrived yet. I cant find any flies or anything around the house although I did throw a couple of ants into the tank. I don't think it seen them though.

How long can I leave it without feeding it? Are there any other alternatives until the crickets arrive?

Scuzi · 27 Jun 2006 at 21:09

I think it's quite young, about 3-4cm long. I did think that the crickets would be too big considering the size of the mantis. So I'm OK to leave it without a feed for a few days if I can't find anything?

Ta.

Scuzi · 27 Jun 2006 at 21:25

danza said:
Moths? If you can't find a moth at this time of year by leaving the light on and the window open, you must live in the South Pole!

I used to feed my mantids moths and they love them. Try a woodlouse, it's quite funny. The mantis will strike it, take a bite and fling it away. For whatever reason, they really don't like them!

The windows are open and the lights are on, all I have to do is wait

Is it possible to keep two mantids in the same container or is it a bad idea? I get the feeling they're the sort of thing that would fight with each other.

Scuzi · 27 Jun 2006 at 22:04

smoove said:
This thread has got be thinking about getting a praying mantis again!

Scuzi, can i ask where you got that kit? Also, get some pics up!

[imghttp://image-upload.org/upload/june/ypYfc.jpg[/img]

I got it all from www.faunology.co.uk , absolutely excellent service. I ordered on Sunday evening and received it all first thing this morning

Scuzi · 27 Jun 2006 at 23:02

Here's a pic of my box, it's beside my laptop for some idea of the scale. It's the medium sized box and seems to be plenty big enough. I got some vermiculite for the base and stuck a few tree branches in there to make it look less bare.

And another of Paddy (That's his name)