praying mantis

[cambo01]

does anyone or has anyone kept these?

just got a chinise mantis Ootheca through today and apparently its close to hatching, got them to feed to my archers but figure i may aswell keep a few

just looking for any help with them as internet is lacking in info

cheers

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

Far as I know they like branches to climb on and need some humidity to help with their molting. Eat crickets and such.

 

[cambo01]

yeh thats pretty much what i found out

dosnt say much about what to keep them in

was thinking about making a sml wooden glass fronted box, what dimensions do i need? the mantis grows to about 11cm so needs to be about a foot tall so it can shead but what room does it need to move about????

 

[Death Pony]

I'd make it 2' tall, 3' wide, and 1' wide. The like lots of branches and foliage. I'd use soil as the substrate and plant the cage fairly well. You could possibly do a free range setup because they don't like to leave they're plants that much.

 

[guppy]

They are hard to keep as pets except for one at a time, they are highly cannibalistic.

 

[Vicious_Fish]

They are hard to keep as pets except for one at a time, they are highly cannibalistic.

Guppy hit the nail right on the head. They are very cool and interesting pets but they have ravenous appetites and will eat other individuals living with them. Best to keep them separated unless you are trying to breed them.

 

[Death Pony]

They are hard to keep as pets except for one at a time, they are highly cannibalistic.

I forgot about that, they're sorta like me..........










j/k

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

I'd say keep em' in about the same sized tank you'd keep a respective sized gecko.

 

[cambo01]

I'd say keep em' in about the same sized tank you'd keep a respective sized gecko.

what size is that? i no nothing about gecko's more of a fish man

i no they have to be kept alone was thinking of just having one in with a few twigs/ plants or if they didnt need mutch room have 3 or 4 to try and breed them (all separated untill fully mature)

it/they will be fed on crickets, mealworms, locusts etc from the local pet shop as thats what i get for my fish occasionaly anyway

2' tall and 3' wide seems quite large as they dont move mutch do they? if they need this size will just have 1

 

[Death Pony]

The dimensions I gave you would be if you were to keep 2 in there. a 10 or 20 gallon tank would be suitable for one.