Mantis

[wilfred]

I saw this guy hanging on a florescent patio light outside. I got all excited and then I realized that he was about as big as Mogley (who is only 3 months old). I almost captured him anyway.

Random thought I had was, what if I put him in the cage with my panther chameleon? One cool thing that might happen is that any freerange crickets I might not find would be eaten by him, because I think he is nocturnal, at least it was after 12am when I saw him. I have no idea if it would stress my chameleon out it was just a thought.

Sorry they are phone pictures.

 

[xanthoman]

either way your cham is going to try and eat him and if it is over an inch and 1/4" in length, he just might recieve a nasty tongue bite in doing so,

 

[wilfred]

Idk my chameleon gets mad and gapes when I put a superworm that is 3/4 of an inch long near him. This mantis was at least 4 inches long. Which is about the length of my chameleon including tail.

 

[Montium]

If he's as big as the cham you run the risk of the mantis trying to eat him, they are aggressive feeders. I'd say put him back outside.

 

[tkilgour]

I always see these around my place also. I wonder if the baby mantis are okay to feed to chameleons.

 

[xanthoman]

chams love baby mantise, but once over an inch and a half or so they are capable of delivering a pretty nasty bite , a 4" mantise could take a chuck right out of a chams tongue

 

[tkilgour]

chams love baby mantise, but once over an inch and a half or so they are capable of delivering a pretty nasty bite , a 4" mantise could take a chuck right out of a chams tongue

This is good to know, I have read it before but never from a trust worthy source. I figured the babies would be okay, but wondered about larger ones. I figured the bigger ones could deliver a bite.

 

[wilfred]

If he's as big as the cham you run the risk of the mantis trying to eat him, they are aggressive feeders. I'd say put him back outside.

I didnt even grab him or put him in the cage... I was just pontificating.

 

[sandrachameleon]

I keep mantis as pets. Those that are doomed due to a poor shed I feed off to my chameleons. No chameleon has ever refused one. Obviously all prey should be of an appropriate size.

 

[Redeye]

I keep mantis as pets. Those that are doomed due to a poor shed I feed off to my chameleons. No chameleon has ever refused one. Obviously all prey should be of an appropriate size.

off topic, but, lets see some Orchid mantic or ghosts!

 

[sandrachameleon]

I've got a couple mantis pics in one of my albums on this site
https://www.chameleonforums.com/mem...s-sandra-s-other-pets-picture1158-mantid.html

Check out MacroJunkie's posts, he's got some excellent shots

 

[tkilgour]

Great photo! Do your chams like to eat baby mantis?

 

[Chameleonboy]

If you do decide to feed them off to your cham I would recommend you to take off their front legs as they are very sharp and can hurt your cham.

-Clemonde

 

[CNorton]

If you do decide to feed them off to your cham I would recommend you to take off their front legs as they are very sharp and can hurt your cham.

-Clemonde

When you do take off the front legs, it is easiest and quickest to do so with scissors. I have tried other methods and they were no pretty or successful.