r/mantids • • Jan 07 '20

Enclosure Advice PSA: Exo-terras, metal mesh and your mantises toes! (and some advice on how to DIY an affordable enclosure)

418 Upvotes

I was asked to make this post in another thread - so here I am. Here's a PSA on what metal mesh does to your mantises feet, and why it should be avoided!

This is a raptorial arm, (the front, grasping arms) but the segment we're interested in is the same on all of their legs. The little portion labelled "Tarsus" is what we're looking at here. You can see that it ends in a set of hooks - often (somewhat confusingly) called "Claws" - these tarsal claws are what give your mantis the ability to walk upside down on surfaces that appear quite smooth to us, and why it feels kind of spiky when a large mantis walks on your skin. They're essential for your mantis to move around, and most importantly moult properly! Differences in the morphology of this structure also give some mantises the ability to walk on glass, whilst others can't.

If you go and look at one of your mantises feet, you will likely be able to see the little hooks now you know what you're looking for. Now the problem is that some tank setups that are commonly recommended damage these hooks, which results in mantises having trouble moving around, and falling whilst they moult.

Exo-terra tanks are very commonly used because a lot of us have other inverts or exotic pets and have spares lying around, or they're sold to us at petstores. They make nice display tanks and are easy to clean. However - the mesh at the top of exo-terra tanks is made of very fine metal, and the holes themselves are very small. This is essentially like you trying to hang by your toes from chickenwire, eventually your toes are going to be pretty damaged, or come off altogether! If you must use an exo-terra, it's essential that the mesh is changed to stop this from occurring. Plastic tulle mesh is easily available and works as an excellent substitute.

There is also a multitude of DIY options available, which I will detail bellow:

Basic requirements for all enclosures:

  • All mantis enclosures must be at least three times the length of the mantis (Don't get fooled by the abdomen curling up, you still need to account for it) and two times the width.
  • There must be something for the mantis to hang securely from at the top of the tank - They will spend 99% of their time at the highest point, and will often moult from it.
  • Substrate - options for suitable substrate are numerous, you can use simple tissue paper, cocoa coir, vermiculite, perlite etc. The object is to hold some moisture and make it easy for you to clean. Cheap and cheerful is the way to go, unless you're making a planted display tank or something like that.
  • The less decoration the better. Decoration is more for our benefit than theirs; before you add something decorative to a tank, consider your reasons for adding it. Practicality should always take precedent over a tank looking nice!
  • Ventilation - ventilation is important for hygiene reasons.

Nymphs

  • Cups

The absolute single best enclosure for a nymph of any species, is simply a plastic deli cup with the lid cut out to accommodate some plastic mesh, and a single twig placed diagonally. Alternately, you can just use an elastic band to hold the mesh on. For feeding, simply cut a hole in the side and stuff it with some sponge to stop live food or your mantis escaping, you can pooter in the food. (if you don't have a pooter you should get one, especially if dealing with fruitflies, they're also very easy to DIY)

  • Cricket/livefood tubs

The tubs that livefood is commonly sold in make excellent tanks with some modification, especially for larger nymphs, and even small adults. The more rigid ones are the best, as they're easily cut to allow the insertion of mesh, and can be stood up tall-ways. The entire lid can be cut out and replaced with mesh, which provides excellent ventilation, and is nice for the mantis to move around on.

Adults

  • Plastic penny sweet jars (Sorry Americans I have no idea what these would be called in your country)
  • Tupperware/food containers
  • Storage containers

All can be modified in the same ways as above. I will either append this post, or make an additional post, detailing how to make a suitable enclosure using the items above with pictures in future.

These enclosures are all very cheap to construct, and even the most DIY averse person can make the modifications necessary to turn them into good enclosures. They also have the benefit of being mostly recycled items a lot of us will already possess.

Another benefit to using tanks mostly constructed of mesh is that it prevents mantises from developing "eye-rub" - this is damage to their eyes from repeatedly trying to walk through clear plastic or glass - it looks like large black spots on the eyes, distinct from the pseudo-pupils - which can in cases turn necrotic and is quite a nasty way for your mantis to die.

I hope this post was helpful and informative, and please don't hesitate to ask any questions or add to the knowledge given here if you have any other tips or advice.

References: https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/12542/


r/mantids • • Sep 28 '22

ID Help A Quick Reference Guide to Wild Praying Mantises of the United States

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65 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 1h ago

General Care She hasnt molted in over two months, is this normal?

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• Upvotes

Magnolia is an i5-ish giant asian mantis and her last molt was august 8th. Is this a cause for concern? Could this be caused by poor husbandry? She isn't my first mantis so I'd like to think I know what I'm doing, but maybe not.


r/mantids • • 1h ago

Health Issues Shield mantis stuck by forelimbs

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• Upvotes

My sweet girl seems to be stuck by her forelimbs mid molt, she’s been like this for ~1hr. Should I just chill out and give her time? I already misted the sides of the enclosure. Her arms look mostly free, is she a good candidate for me carefully helping her get out?


r/mantids • • 7h ago

Image/Video My beautiful Velta has reached her final form!!! 💕

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7 Upvotes

I screamed when I came home from work! She literally just ate last night when I fed her after a week and half of being concerned she wasn't eating. I have no clue how to tell when my mantises are in pre-molt anymore. 🙃


r/mantids • • 3h ago

General Care Is this normal?

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3 Upvotes

Spiny flower mantis nymph is pacing around and “stretching” is this a pre molt? Normal behavior? Temp and humidity are OK the cover to the enclosure is just temporary, previously had a twine mesh but it looked like loose fibers were falling off and ordered a nylon mesh screen for the top instead.


r/mantids • • 13h ago

Other I've been searching for a mantis for a month I was about to pick it up but the bus arrived😭😭

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18 Upvotes

also any tips for finding a praying mantis next time?


r/mantids • • 3h ago

Feeding Too fed?

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2 Upvotes

Is the black between the segments an indication of overfeeding?

Background:
This is Marty Jade, aka MJ. Lil dude plopped on my hand when turning the doorknob to enter my home a month or two back (I am time blind). I put the dude on my houseplants and after two days I realized I needed to learn how to care for this wonderful baby creature.

I think he’s like L5?? I don’t know. He’s got wing buds and on a previous post a redditor said the next molt he’d get his wings.

Another previous post a friendly redditor said, “never seen someone keep iris oratoria before. Very cool.”

I am in southwest United States area.

MJ is always down for an AMA. I can translate since I have learned the language of his species in exchange for small crickets, wax worms, wingless fruit flies, and unfettered access to all 37 of my houseplants. MJ chilling on Tony the Tiger plant enjoying the last bits of a smedium cricket is pictured.

Fair trade if you ask me.


r/mantids • • 51m ago

Other Mantis by front door with temps dropping.

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• Upvotes

Snapped this picture earlier but this fella has been hanging by my door all day and the temps are dropping. Any ideas what it’s doing and if it will survive the cold weather over night?


r/mantids • • 12h ago

Preservation Mantis preservation

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8 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 2h ago

Feeding I2 I4 mantis feeding

1 Upvotes

So I know some mantis get very picky on what to eat but I already have fruit flies WHAY else can a mantis this young eat just in case?


r/mantids • • 9h ago

Health Issues Blood during molt?

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3 Upvotes

My mantis is drying from his molt (first one I've seen him but he either just became an adult or sub-adult). He has green fluid on his eyes. One has a lot more than the other.

Researching it sounds like this isn't normal and is blood 😞 has anyone had this happen during a molt?

He developed eye rub in the past week or so. I covered the top of his enclosure to prevent it from getting worse. I'm worried he may have damaged his new tissue prior to the molt and not sure if he will recover.


r/mantids • • 7h ago

General Care My baby spiny mantis belly changing

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2 Upvotes

So this little guy every day I feel like his ABD is more white and still plump. Last fed 10/19. Is he over fed or about to molt??? Should I offer food? He is still moving around and even took water from q tip I offered.
What should I do.?


r/mantids • • 5h ago

Health Issues Jeweled Flower Mantis not molting

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1 Upvotes

So I currently have a few mantises, I just moved them into a new house since where I normally stay has an infestation problem and is getting treated for a few weeks.

So Calypso (my mantis) last molted on Sep 16 and before that, Aug 27 when she was shipped to me. Before I had moved them, the house I was staying in was very warm 24/7. it would stay at 75-78 during the day and 72 at night.

While they’re staying here, the temp is set to 71 most of the time but I have a heater in my room that I’m now running. I cannot change the heat because my upstairs neighbors floor will also change. I’ve complained to the landlord about this (because wth? This shouldn’t even be an issue and should’ve been stated before moving in) and she’s trying to find a way around that issue.

Is there anything I can do? she looks completely full but I havent fed her in a few days :( I’m so concerned and worried.. with the heater, it says it’s about 74f in here


r/mantids • • 9h ago

Breeding/Ootheca Is this ootheca okay?

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2 Upvotes

A mantis visited my garden and built an ootheca before running off. I've not seen one that has this cottony texture at the bottom. Is that normal? I caught her in the act of creating it but gave her some space to finish it. I'm concerned that she left it prematurely.

Thanks in advance!


r/mantids • • 6h ago

Feeding Is my ghost mantis well fed?

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1 Upvotes

I recently bought my first praying mantis—it's still pretty young. I've had it for three days, and I'd like to make sure I'm feeding it properly. I'm still not sure if her abdomen is the right size. Could someone tell me if my praying mantis is full? Am I feeding her right?


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Image/Video Some macro photos of my pet mantises

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179 Upvotes

All species include
Deroplatys gorochovi
Pseudocreobotra wahlbergi
Phyllocrania paradoxa
Hymenopus coronatus


r/mantids • • 11h ago

ID Help Can anyone help me sex my mantis?

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2 Upvotes

Not sure if the pictures are clear enough of not! Also, are there any ways to tell the instar?

Edit* added genital lip photo in comments


r/mantids • • 11h ago

Image/Video My little Creobroter granulicollis male fresh after molt

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2 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 8h ago

Health Issues ghost mantis not molting

1 Upvotes

i have a friend with a young ghost mantis that seems about L4. she got her a month ago and still no signs of a molt, most sources online say 2-4 weeks between molts so it's got us kind of worried. I got an orchid mantis at the same time and she's molted twice in that time. what could be affecting her if there is an issue?

i think her humidity might be a little too high but she doesn't use hygrometers or thermometers so i can't give any figures. she mists quite heavily every 2 days and was using a fly cup with the foam ventilation but shes switched to fabric mesh ventilation over the top. i've seen online high humidity can cause failed molts so could it be a variable?

we live in scotland and our nights are getting very cold now, i keep trying to encourage her to get a heat mat but she insists her room is hot. i can only go off my room temps that are usually about 18 at night and 22 during the day. again since she doesn't use thermometers i don't have any temps for her room. outside temps for the day are usually anywhere from 4 to 12.

she offers fruit flies every night or two and they're always eaten by the mantis so her appetite isn't being affected and she usually hangs out near the top and sides of her enclosure with no changes to her behaviour.

are we overthinking it and is there any advice anyone can offer? or a way to convince her to get more equipment?


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Image/Video abdomen squirming around

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11 Upvotes

hi guys! my Australian mantis is about 7 months old now, shes been in her final stage for 3 months or so now. she's been very active but losing her grip and she fell earlier eating food while trying to grip onto a plant i have.

she hasnt laid her eggs yet so thats what im guessing this is, but is something wrong? or is she just slowly dying


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Health Issues Dark blotches?

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11 Upvotes

Are these concerning?


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Image/Video Female Stenophylla lobivertex changed color to match her environment upon her last molt.

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5 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 1d ago

Health Issues Eye issue?

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6 Upvotes

There's this weird ring in his eye and it wasn't there before this is my first time owning a mantis. Is there anything that I could have done wrong? I did get him from an orb weaver web so im wondering if that had anything to do with it? And is there anything i can do to help this he has seemed a off since it showed up a few days ago

Sorry for the rant or if I did anything wrong im just really worried :[


r/mantids • • 23h ago

Sellers/Websites Buying a mantis

1 Upvotes

So i've been trying to buy a mantis as my enclosure is now finished but I can't find a single store selling them what should i do?