Praying Mantis

[Jessica Loesch]

Since I was a little girl, I have been capturing and keeping praying mantids. I dreamed about the gorgeous ones found all over the world, wishing I could find them here.

When I was maybe 16, I bred a couple and the female laid her ooth. It hatched and I had tons of babies.


I never really knew the best way to take care of them, other than feed them and provide a little water. Now that I have been taking care of snakes, and I see a lot of tarantula care, and even centipedes, I wondered ... What if I could ORDER a praying mantis?

Well apparently you can. And I REALLY want an orchid mantis. They aren't in stock right now that I can find anywhere, but they have some wonderful setups online that are cost effective and such.


Does anyone here keep mantids? I will most likely be ordering one when they come back in stock.

[tcutting]

i dont know anything about them, but i havent seen an orchid mantis until i googled it because of your post and i must say.....

DAMN THOSE ARE AMAZING LOOKING CRITTERS!! and i hope you get one, however when you do, pics are required.

[Jessica Loesch]

I will definitely post pics ... It's always been a dream of mine .. and for those of you that don't know either...

googled this image for ya


And this image from the website that sells them

http://mantisplace.com/mantisforsale.html#camelo

[Aes_Sidhe]

The Only problem with Mantis... Those are One year Animals... so You Should have at least pair to maintain your collection... (at least on beginning you dont need worry about food they will eat each other .. j/k )

[DC Reptiles]

I've seen them for sale, let me see if I can find the website again. I find them all over here in ohio. I caught one at 5am this morning on my way to work, she was about 6 inches

[ballpythonluvr]

I will definitely post pics ... It's always been a dream of mine .. and for those of you that don't know either...

googled this image for ya


And this image from the website that sells them

http://mantisplace.com/mantisforsale.html#camelo

That is one cool looking mantis!

[mainbutter]

I raised up a chinese mantis when I was ~10y/o, part of a summer camp project. I seem to recall feeding it fruit flies, aphids, and eventually house flies.

[Aes_Sidhe]

Couple care sheets I found upon quick search over internet:

http://www.insectstore.com/hymenopus.php
http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/H-coronatus.html

http://www.bugsincyberspace.com/mantid_care.html - very long informative general mantis care sheet with Videos included

http://mantiskingdom.com/index.php?m...d=14&chapter=1

[Alexandra V]

I personally adore mantids! I'd been thinking about getting into them shortly after I'd gotten into inverts, but I didn't want to have to breed them so that I could have them for longer than a year. I still may do it though, when I have more time MAKE SURE you share pics, so I can feed my need for orchid mantids until I get one

[heathers*bps]

I love mantids!!! Me and my 4 yr old daughter have caught a couple in our backyard, and I've always thought about keeping one, but they are protected here in PA.

The orchid mantis is such a beautiful creature!!!