Raising Manits?
- Thread starter xephyr17
- Start date
werecat
Established Member
Are you considering raising them as feeders? If so, in my experience it is not worth the time and effort. If it's for a pet, they are very cool! I'm not sure how long it takes from egg to adult. I've always either purchased nymphs or adults. My one inch nymphs took 3-4 weeks to grow to about 3 inches.
Since most species are very cannibalistic, they need to be separated into individual containers or they will eat each other. It's the feeding/cleaning/spritzing each individual cage that will take a lot of your time. Additionally, you must consider the cost of feeders (and they go through a lot when they are young). Breeding them to keep the cycle going is something I have not tried. You must be careful to make sure both mantids have eaten and usually introduce the male when the female is in the middle of a meal.
I think most people consider mantids to be bad feeders since there is not a large return for the effort. I like them as an occasional treat for my chameleon and am willing to pay for a few large nymphs from time to time.
They are however, very cool pets! Keeping one or two is not very difficult at all and they are fascinating to watch.
Since most species are very cannibalistic, they need to be separated into individual containers or they will eat each other. It's the feeding/cleaning/spritzing each individual cage that will take a lot of your time. Additionally, you must consider the cost of feeders (and they go through a lot when they are young). Breeding them to keep the cycle going is something I have not tried. You must be careful to make sure both mantids have eaten and usually introduce the male when the female is in the middle of a meal.
I think most people consider mantids to be bad feeders since there is not a large return for the effort. I like them as an occasional treat for my chameleon and am willing to pay for a few large nymphs from time to time.
They are however, very cool pets! Keeping one or two is not very difficult at all and they are fascinating to watch.
junglefries
Avid Member
Talk to nick barta. He is the creepy crawly sensei. He sells them and knows them. Ask him. 
SilverWolf
Member
I raised a mother and her nymphs. Just saying'…. 
I keep them as friends though, not food. They usually will hatch in spring from when I kept them, but they can take about 5 months to hatch. It depends on the species.
I keep them as friends though, not food. They usually will hatch in spring from when I kept them, but they can take about 5 months to hatch. It depends on the species.
xephyr17
New Member
Nice, thanks for the info!
I was thinking about raising them for feeders, but if they're really that difficult to keep then I can understand why they're so expensive
I'll probably get some for my cham every now and then as a treat, if I feel like spending the money..... What's the best place to get them?
As far as a pet is concerned, I'm not much of an insect lover haha but they do seem really cool. I've watched them before and they're interesting for sure
I was thinking about raising them for feeders, but if they're really that difficult to keep then I can understand why they're so expensive
I'll probably get some for my cham every now and then as a treat, if I feel like spending the money..... What's the best place to get them?
As far as a pet is concerned, I'm not much of an insect lover haha but they do seem really cool. I've watched them before and they're interesting for sure
ThisIsSeth
New Member
I have also considered raising them from an ooth until someone said "why would you feed your feeders." He meant why would I raise an insect that took other feeders to raise. Then trying to separate 100 mantids would be crazy. I think I am going to try doing the roaches next.
