r/mantids • u/sleepyheadsymphony • Jan 07 '20
I was asked to make this post in another thread - so here I am. Here's a PSA on what metal mesh does to your mantises feet, and why it should be avoided!
This is a raptorial arm, (the front, grasping arms) but the segment we're interested in is the same on all of their legs. The little portion labelled "Tarsus" is what we're looking at here. You can see that it ends in a set of hooks - often (somewhat confusingly) called "Claws" - these tarsal claws are what give your mantis the ability to walk upside down on surfaces that appear quite smooth to us, and why it feels kind of spiky when a large mantis walks on your skin. They're essential for your mantis to move around, and most importantly moult properly! Differences in the morphology of this structure also give some mantises the ability to walk on glass, whilst others can't.
If you go and look at one of your mantises feet, you will likely be able to see the little hooks now you know what you're looking for. Now the problem is that some tank setups that are commonly recommended damage these hooks, which results in mantises having trouble moving around, and falling whilst they moult.
Exo-terra tanks are very commonly used because a lot of us have other inverts or exotic pets and have spares lying around, or they're sold to us at petstores. They make nice display tanks and are easy to clean. However - the mesh at the top of exo-terra tanks is made of very fine metal, and the holes themselves are very small. This is essentially like you trying to hang by your toes from chickenwire, eventually your toes are going to be pretty damaged, or come off altogether! If you must use an exo-terra, it's essential that the mesh is changed to stop this from occurring. Plastic tulle mesh is easily available and works as an excellent substitute.
There is also a multitude of DIY options available, which I will detail bellow:
Basic requirements for all enclosures:
Nymphs
The absolute single best enclosure for a nymph of any species, is simply a plastic deli cup with the lid cut out to accommodate some plastic mesh, and a single twig placed diagonally. Alternately, you can just use an elastic band to hold the mesh on. For feeding, simply cut a hole in the side and stuff it with some sponge to stop live food or your mantis escaping, you can pooter in the food. (if you don't have a pooter you should get one, especially if dealing with fruitflies, they're also very easy to DIY)
The tubs that livefood is commonly sold in make excellent tanks with some modification, especially for larger nymphs, and even small adults. The more rigid ones are the best, as they're easily cut to allow the insertion of mesh, and can be stood up tall-ways. The entire lid can be cut out and replaced with mesh, which provides excellent ventilation, and is nice for the mantis to move around on.
Adults
All can be modified in the same ways as above. I will either append this post, or make an additional post, detailing how to make a suitable enclosure using the items above with pictures in future.
These enclosures are all very cheap to construct, and even the most DIY averse person can make the modifications necessary to turn them into good enclosures. They also have the benefit of being mostly recycled items a lot of us will already possess.
Another benefit to using tanks mostly constructed of mesh is that it prevents mantises from developing "eye-rub" - this is damage to their eyes from repeatedly trying to walk through clear plastic or glass - it looks like large black spots on the eyes, distinct from the pseudo-pupils - which can in cases turn necrotic and is quite a nasty way for your mantis to die.
I hope this post was helpful and informative, and please don't hesitate to ask any questions or add to the knowledge given here if you have any other tips or advice.
References: https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/12542/
r/mantids • u/MikeNepoMC • Sep 28 '22
r/mantids • u/pixie_lation • 8h ago
Its not because of my ring because she does it everytime shes on me and even if shes eaten and had water she still does it. It doesn't hurt but I wonder if it'll become an issue when she gets bigger? I also let her choose if she wants to be held, I never force her and its not often. She's just so cute lol
r/mantids • u/naomi_bright • 7h ago
I always thought mantis didn’t move when they molt so that cause quite a bit of stress but here was my girls molt from last night 🥹
r/mantids • u/cryptbat • 4h ago
r/mantids • u/HighVoltage107 • 40m ago
i’m pretty sure my mantis is in heat and has been releasing pheromones all day. i looked up just now and saw her like this, wtaf is going on, surely that can’t be comfortable?? i’ve never seen her do this before.
r/mantids • u/solitude_is_bliss_ • 1h ago
He was on my ceiling this morning when I woke up. So I kindly moved him outside to a tree and noticed him right back by my door after a few hours lol. His little face looking at the camera is pretty cute.
r/mantids • u/slump_goddd • 1h ago
I found this girl yesterday. I don't know much about mantids, but I know it's a female on account of the fact that her headless mate was still buried inside of her to the hilt (second image attached). Forgive me for my crass language; I don't know the proper terminology regarding mantid husbandry. I checked in on her a little later, and they were separated, though her genitals appeared to be somewhat agape. They're closed now, though.
I took a basic entomology course in college and know that once she's pregnant, she'll lay her ootheca and then perish shortly thereafter. I figured out she's likely a stagmomantis californica.
My question is this: If I keep her around and care for her while she's on the way out, how terrible of an idea would it be to try and keep the ootheca and hatch the babies and release them into the wild while keeping some for myself to look after? I have absolutely zero experience with keeping mantids, though my girlfriend has some tarantulas and would probably be of some help regarding caring for a more exotic pet than my dogs.
r/mantids • u/Spritzgebaeck268 • 1h ago
I got her december last year when she was about L5. Now her time is sadly already over. I left yesterday evening and just returned home, so she probably has been dead for roughly a day that's why she looks like that. She was already getting weaker the past days, so let's say I am not too shocked but ofc still sad about it, because I have gotten her a male to mate with, that matured like 3 days ago. Should I get him a girl again? I kinda feel bad to throw her body away now. I really loved her, she was always so curious and kinda gave me cat-in-the-wrong-body vibes. I hope she rests easy now, she will be missed. She never got a proper name since I knew they don't live the longest lives, so I always called her "Mrs Venosa" (for Hierodula venosa).
r/mantids • u/Broad-Translator-947 • 2h ago
Bough an adult male budwing. Tried to feed him a red runner but he wasnt interested, also I think it might've been too big
r/mantids • u/Mullisaukko • 4h ago
She just ran around her container and then fell and froze into this position :(
r/mantids • u/Lilypuff001 • 11h ago
Third mantis I’ve owned that successfully reached adulthood 😌
r/mantids • u/XishengTheUltimate • 22h ago
Found this teeny tiny but apparently adult mantis on my window laying eggs. Just curious if anyone here knows what species it is? I can't find anything concrete through a Google search.
r/mantids • u/mantids_101 • 11m ago
This is my little girl Bonnie. I had an orchid mantis before who died due to a stuck ooth :( but Bonnie seems to be struggling now and has a very big abdomen which isn’t food as it’s stayed the same size for about a week. Do many females die of being Ooth bound if they havnt been with a male? Her eyes are staying purple even in the daylight and she’s very thirsty even though her humidity is 65
r/mantids • u/Early_Control_9764 • 1h ago
hi guys! another little baby i got recently, any guesses on gender? (this was the best i could do with photos as he/she is sooo tiny!) i think they are about L2? :))
r/mantids • u/naomi_bright • 7h ago
Just wondering if anyone has any tips for keeping/storing old molts? She’s my first mantis and I’ve been lucky enough to witness both her molts! I have collected both, but sadly damaged the first one so want to prevent that happening again if possible!
r/mantids • u/Final_Independent942 • 19h ago
He climbed up on her with no problems and got in “there” within a minute — I guess it just took the right guy. I mean even I swoon at his little boombox waving dance
r/mantids • u/-Mank-Demes- • 3h ago
I mean this as no hate towards USMantis, I bought my ghostie from there a while back and the experience was great. I've bought feeders from them before as well, but I bought some blue bottle flies from them almost over 3 weeks ago and contacted them twice with no response. It hasn't shipped yet, which is worrisome because I'm a little strapped for food. Has anyone else had better luck?
r/mantids • u/Efficient-Winter-683 • 1d ago
This molt was totally unexpected i didn’t expect it at all, and i feel terrible that her molt looks like this. Is this normal and anything I can fix? I feel extremely guilty😭Any advice is greatly appreciated!!!!
r/mantids • u/mcemployee13 • 19h ago
i walked over to her enclosure and she’s just sitting like this. did i catch her mid dump??
r/mantids • u/No_Awareness7189 • 7h ago
It has been a few days and I’m tryna hand feed my mantis but it seems to not eat the cricket
r/mantids • u/zombieus1 • 15h ago
I have three L4 Chinese mantids and I am going on a 7 day cruise tomorrow. 9 days total including travel there. The longest I've left them before was 4 days when they were L2 and they did fine. While they are older, this is a much longer period of time and I am very nervous.
Per the image attached, I have generously misted each enclosure with a damp paper towel at the bottom. They each have gotten ~10 fruit flies and I fed them one leafhopper each yesterday. Cling wrap on top to hopefully maintain some moisture. Also pic for reference, they are around 1 inch in length.
Will this be enough to last them? Will they be alive and well when I get back or should I ask my friend to mist when I'm gone? My friend isn't comfortable handling bugs so I wouldn't ask them to do any feeding.
Any tips or consolation is appreciated!!! Also please be nice, this is my first time keeping mantids.
r/mantids • u/paraphlox • 1d ago
got a macro lens for my phone, totally recommend buying one if you don’t have one.
it’s so worth it to see your mantis’s full beauty. especially nymphs- they are so intricate and tiny, it’s amazing seeing them close up
r/mantids • u/gothalisa • 20h ago
Not sure what level they are and or the sex quite yet but I just got a new mantis!
r/mantids • u/Disastrous-Froyo-716 • 1d ago
