Keep a Praying Mantis with a Ball Python?
I'm very passively thinking about branching into praying mantises. I've done some prelim research, and it turns out that the more exotic and beautiful species have temp and humidity requirements that are very similar to ball pythons. Balls don't eat insects, and mantises couldn't possibly pose a threat to a ball, so the thought occurred, why not house them together in the same T8?
Has anyone tried this? Could it cause stress for the ball? I wouldn't think it would as they co-exist with insects int he wild. Mantises can get large (for an insect) but they typically don't do very much either. From what I understand they are ambush predators that hang out on branches. My balls are almost always in their hides so I don't expect there would be any interaction between the two. They may not even be aware of each other. Then again, maybe there is something I'm not thinking of.
If I need to invest in a whole new set up for mantises, then I'd just scrap the idea. Snakes are the main thing and they'll be no compromises on that front. but if its simply a matter of buying a mantid and tossing it into an already functioning T8, then I may give it a try.
Thoughts?
Re: Keep a Praying Mantis with a Ball Python?
Ever seen a Mantis eat a bird, Google, just Google. Not sure it would be wise at all. I know I wouldn’t, and my daughter and I keep Mantis’s every summer. In a separate container. Maybe nothing would happen at all. But then again, is it worth it?
Re: Keep a Praying Mantis with a Ball Python?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sonny1318
Maybe nothing would happen at all. But then again, is it worth it?
^ this.
Re: Keep a Praying Mantis with a Ball Python?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sonny1318
Maybe nothing would happen at all. But then again, is it worth it?
Of course not. There's a lot of cross over in the reptile and insect keeping world so I though maybe somebody had tried it. I have no intention of being the first though!
Re: Keep a Praying Mantis with a Ball Python?
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Originally Posted by
Deborah
Ultimately your choice if you want to take that kind of risk to prove a point or see what happen, it on you.
Really not interested in either. Like I said snakes are the main thing and my interest in mantises is quite passive. I just wanted to feel out what the community thinks, after all maybe somebody else tried it. Honestly I kind of regret having asked!
It seems the community's opinion is quite clear, so I'll let the matter rest.
Re: Keep a Praying Mantis with a Ball Python?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Indy
You generally don't get "a mantis". You get in egg and hundreds will hatch out of it.
I'm aware of that and would never have placed an egg in a ball python enclosure.
I was speaking of exotic mantises that thrive under the warm and humid conditions we keep Balls, like an orchid mantis. Such are sold individually as mantids and can command fairly high prices for insects (by my lights at least).
Again, this idea has been shelved due to the opposition of the community.
Re: Keep a Praying Mantis with a Ball Python?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
JRLongton
Really not interested in either. Like I said snakes are the main thing and my interest in mantises is quite passive. I just wanted to feel out what the community thinks, after all maybe somebody else tried it. Honestly I kind of regret having asked!
It seems the community's opinion is quite clear, so I'll let the matter rest.
Please don't regret asking. It was a very interesting question. I enjoyed reading this topic, and learning from it. Thank you for asking! :gj:
