Ghost mantis - all grown up

[little leaf]

not so sure I will be feeding these off - I would like to breed them to get more, then maybe feed some off - anyone have any advise on breeding them - do they eat the male like the others ??

 

[WebEviction]

There not to tuff, my males never got eaten.

 

[little leaf]

should I just house them all together ? I have about 10 or so -

 

[CarlC]

If you feed heavy and give them some room you should be ok. I never kept them in groups larger then 1.3 in screen cages, probably could have had larger groups but just never tried.

Carl

 

[pigglett79]

I kept them all together; however I did have some males that did pay for mating with their lives. I gave my ooths to Steve McNary and fed the rest off, I have no patience for mantids...........

 

[little leaf]

I like them, but do not want them to eat each other - lol for food, or sex -

 

[pigglett79]

Some pics of my adults

Breeding

 

[pigglett79]

not so sure I will be feeding these off - I would like to breed them to get more, then maybe feed some off - anyone have any advise on breeding them - do they eat the male like the others ??

Those are not yet adults.....patience Cheryl.

I fed them like crazy for many months before I got ooths. Tons of small crickets.

 

[CarlC]

They really like houseflies also.

Carl

 

[pigglett79]

They really like houseflies also.

Carl

Oh yes they do, and also black soldier flies.

 

[little leaf]

Those are not yet adults.....patience Cheryl.

I fed them like crazy for many months before I got ooths. Tons of small crickets.

lol- I was just going to say that after seeing yours they just get cooler with every shed ! TY for the info

 

[CarlC]

The only real problem with using mantis as a food source is the time invested. Mantis do not grow really fast. Species that produce lots of young are your best bet but you need a good sized area to raise them unless you just feed off the hatchlings.

Some of the more exotic species are just to pretty and interesting to be used a food.

Carl

 

[Chameleonmaster]

They're getting bigger, I have some left over from that ooth I believe they're L4.

 

[little leaf]

I can't wait to see them all the way grown - they are so neat, I just love them, I hold them too I thought they would jump off my hands, but they just sit, my Chinese mantis is a crazy woman! I can not even let her out - she goes nuts, she is going to get eaten if she does not stop ! lol she has laid 4 ooth, how many will they lay and how long do they live?