Mantis ooths hatched. Now what?

MissSkittles

Chameleon Enthusiast
My 2 ooths just hatched and there’s tons of babies! I released some into Grumpy and Hammlet’s enclosures to take care of any gnats or unwanted pests. I still have plenty left though and no idea of their care. Google says they eat bugs. Should I sacrifice a cricket to the babies? Will they try to eat or bite my chams if not enough pests in the enclosures?
 
Have fun finding random mantis in random place throw out your house. I always know if when escaped when I hear my husband scream “AHHHHHH!!!!! BABE THERES A BUG OMG THERES A BUG AND ITS HUGE” 😂🤣
Yes, my stepdaughter every now and then brings me an isopod she found in the house. Poor kid is desensitized now to my bugs.
 
They’re really cute! 🥰
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Yes, my stepdaughter every now and then brings me an isopod she found in the house. Poor kid is desensitized now to my bugs.
My son was like that but with how dramatic my husband is unfortunately it has dropped off on my son. He used to like my insects now he tells me eww like his baba 🙄
 
Personally I would just throw them in the enclosure. They inevitably start to eat each other after a while. But if there’s any sort of fruit flies or other items to eat they will eat those. They won’t bother the cam other than occasionally hitching a ride on their back.
 
Personally I would just throw them in the enclosure. They inevitably start to eat each other after a while. But if there’s any sort of fruit flies or other items to eat they will eat those. They won’t bother the cam other than occasionally hitching a ride on their back.
I thought I’d keep some aside and let them grow a bit just for kicks and giggles. If they survive and grow, they’ll make some novel snacks for my chams.
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Omg, congrats!!!! That’s so cool. I hope your cham loves them. Curious, how are you housing them???
 
Omg, congrats!!!! That’s so cool. I hope your cham loves them. Curious, how are you housing them???
That was a challenge in figuring out. Using a spare small cricket keeper with light fabric scrap held taut on top with rubber band and then stuck the lid on for added security. Wasn’t sure if they need a substrate so just left it bare.
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Lots and lots of fruit flies and pretty soon each one will need its own enclosure because they eat each other. A deli cup for each one will work fine. When they are a bit older they can eat small crickets and houseflies.
 
I still have plenty left though and no idea of their care.
Oh, for shame!
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You know better!

Google says they eat bugs. Should I sacrifice a cricket to the babies? Will they try to eat or bite my chams if not enough pests in the enclosures?
If they eat bugs, they're technically carnivorous. 💡

Personally I would just throw them in the enclosure. They inevitably start to eat each other after a while. But if there’s any sort of fruit flies or other items to eat they will eat those.
If the enclosure is bioactive, I wouldn't do that—they may decide the CuC is fair game. 😋

I'd also refer you to the archives—not to mention the infamous video (even if it's not a chameleon). Chameleon Lizard gets eaten by a praying mantis
Yeah, that's a full-grown mantis. TBH, IDK about smaller mantis—smaller bites, or possibility of swarming. That's why I suggest the archives.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/search/1096098/?q=mantis&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance
https://www.google.com/search?q=man...WPWM0KHYeTCKQQrQIoBHoECCYQBQ&biw=1024&bih=636
 
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Oh, for shame!
You know better!


If they eat bugs, they're technically carnivorous. 💡


If the enclosure is bioactive, I wouldn't do that—they may decide the CuC is fair game. 😋

I'd also refer you to the archives—not to mention the infamous video (even if it's not a chameleon). Chameleon Lizard gets eaten by a praying mantis
Yeah, that's a full-grown mantis. TBH, IDK about smaller mantis—smaller bites, or possibility of swarming. That's why I suggest the archives.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/search/1096098/?q=mantis&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance
https://www.google.com/search?q=man...WPWM0KHYeTCKQQrQIoBHoECCYQBQ&biw=1024&bih=636
I already caught Hammlet picking off some of the babies. Whooo! Free bite sized snacks!
 
Oh, for shame!
You know better!


If they eat bugs, they're technically carnivorous. 💡


If the enclosure is bioactive, I wouldn't do that—they may decide the CuC is fair game. 😋

I'd also refer you to the archives—not to mention the infamous video (even if it's not a chameleon). Chameleon Lizard gets eaten by a praying mantis
Yeah, that's a full-grown mantis. TBH, IDK about smaller mantis—smaller bites, or possibility of swarming. That's why I suggest the archives.
https://www.chameleonforums.com/search/1096098/?q=mantis&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance
https://www.google.com/search?q=man...WPWM0KHYeTCKQQrQIoBHoECCYQBQ&biw=1024&bih=636
they wont eat much, and at that size they wont eat the CUC. they tend to climb up and perch at the lights. fruit flies and soil gnats are a good size for them, and other baby mantids. It will take a few weeks before they are big enough for a BSF, and even then, the fly is WAY too big a meal for them - so they tend to take a fewbites and then throw the carcass over their shoulder for the CUC
 
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