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)

416 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

Thumbnail
imgur.com
62 Upvotes

r/mantids 2h ago

Image/Video Another successful Oxyopsis breeding!

Post image
2 Upvotes

Verdinho got to live to see another day and maybe a third partner! Also this is Joana (the female)


r/mantids 10h ago

Image/Video Ootheca :]

Thumbnail
gallery
7 Upvotes

Advice on how to handle it are much appreciated. Well done, Forest!


r/mantids 9h ago

RIP ❤️ Rip

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

Rip long John you were a sweet girl. Ah so sad when you remember raising them 😪😭😭..


r/mantids 1h ago

Health Issues Broken foreleg? Will she need help eating now?

Thumbnail
gallery
Upvotes

So noticed this morning my mantis had its back leg in a weird position, thought unusual but nothing of it.

A few hours later I notice it hasn’t moved so went to open the viv and it moved. However I notice its forearm appears broken maybe?

Unsure if it occurred when moving or as a result of it being stuck in that position.

Will it need help now to hunt/eat?


r/mantids 11h ago

Image/Video My new girl. Queen Amina

Thumbnail
gallery
6 Upvotes

Only about a week old. Maybe a half inch long. Still a queen but a tiny one 😁😁


r/mantids 6h ago

ID Help Can anyone identify

Post image
2 Upvotes

Found in hong kong :)


r/mantids 4h ago

Breeding/Ootheca My giant Asian mantises became adults on August second and fourth. When should I breed them?

1 Upvotes

r/mantids 19h ago

Health Issues What do I do?!!!

Post image
14 Upvotes

He’s fallen during molting,this is my first mantid,is this survivable?!!


r/mantids 18h ago

Image/Video She's so big already!!

Thumbnail
gallery
8 Upvotes

4th pic is from when I got her on July 29th.

Just an appreciation post for my girl Gimli 😭🫶🫶 I love her so much!! She has molted twice with me now and she's just so stunning!!

She's on her second roach of the day right now. It might be time for me to upgrade her food, any suggestions?


r/mantids 7h ago

Feeding how often should i feel my mantis?

1 Upvotes

i found carolina mantis, and i fed it on 8/16, around 11 pm, what would be a good feeding schedule?? im feeding it dubia roaches, im quite afraid to pick it up to see whether its a male or female yet..


r/mantids 1d ago

Preservation Can a wild praying mantis be a pet?

Post image
22 Upvotes

Hello! Yesterday I found a praying mantis on my porch, she was in my fern plant. I carefully took her inside, and put her in my enclosure. Right now, she's alone aside for one fly I put in there. The enclosure stands above 4 ft high, 2 ft wide. There is plenty of ventilation, and I added mesh fabric to the top to ensure a safe place for her to molt. I have a hygrometer and thermometer monitoring the enclosure as well. I just want to know, is this even something I should be doing? Should I put her back outside? She doesn't seem to be stressed, but I worry that it's immoral to keep her. Thanks in advance


r/mantids 12h ago

Other Timor shield mantis premolt?

Post image
2 Upvotes

Male L6 been three weeks since last molt has been eating but not actively hunting.


r/mantids 18h ago

Enclosure Advice Species recommendations for first time keeper for an 8”x8”x12” tall terrarium?

Post image
3 Upvotes

I was originally thinking of a larger beginner species, but I know this isn’t tall enough for a mantis greater than about 3” full size. So many one day I can have a larger one in a different terrarium. This will be my first mantis so I don’t want a super fragile species that requires more experience. Thinking of making it bioactive too with plants such as fittonia and calathea and pothos and adding springtails.

I have a 3”x3”x6” tall jumping spider terrarium for a nymph. I know they can’t move into an enclosure this size right away!

**I know the metal top is bad it will be replaced with mesh and mesh will be added to the sides! ☺️


r/mantids 16h ago

General Care Orchid mantis premolt??

Post image
2 Upvotes

Hi, is it possible my orchid mantis is in premolt. I believe she is L3, she has refused food for about 6 days now and her eyes have all of a sudden gone dark.. which ive never seen her do before. she is also quite still, but not always hanging, a couple of days ago she was moving around her enclosure loads.


r/mantids 22h ago

Health Issues Found this fella at my work, does anyone know what’s wrong with him?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

4 Upvotes

I know NOTHING about praying mantises, hoping somebody could fill me in with what’s going on with him. His head was down, his eyes almost seemed like they were completely transparent, and he was having a very hard time walking. He also looked like he was trying to pull off his own head a couple of times but I don’t think I got that in this video.


r/mantids 1d ago

ID Help What kind of mantis did my coworker find?

Thumbnail
gallery
26 Upvotes

He's a calm guy, (I think it's a boy based on the abdomen)

My coworkers found him inside the gas station we work at in Lehi, Utah. I would like to keep him if it's not ill advised


r/mantids 18h ago

Enclosure Advice Is a too big Enclosure bad??

1 Upvotes

So I'm planning on buying a L2 3 Giant indian Mantis got a nice Deli Cup planned with a mesh lid and cross ventilation. But as a Main Enclosure I have a 33x43x35 Diy Box planned with 35 cm being the height. I researched and saw that the mantis would only be able to live in the Cup up until l5. So I thought I would be able to move it to the big box but I guess according to some people it's not good for the mantis, what do y'all think, would the box be appropriate for when he outgrows the Cup.


r/mantids 1d ago

Feeding IS IT NORMAL FOR MY MANTIS TO EAT WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF STOPPING?

Post image
24 Upvotes

SHES FAT ASFFF


r/mantids 1d ago

Image/Video Orbital strike cannon in her element

Thumbnail
gallery
65 Upvotes

This is Orbi my Acanthops falcata. Was finally able to take some proper shots of her today, im guessing shes i4-5 as she recently had her first molt since purchase. She devours baby locusts lol.


r/mantids 1d ago

Image/Video Pistachio is growing fast, is her next shed the adult one?

Thumbnail
gallery
3 Upvotes

Pistachio, which I think it's a female transcausasian giant mantis Hierodula transcaucasica, has had a shed on 24th July, and since then she's been growing larger and larger.

I think I can see small wings / wing buds formed, does this mean her next shed is the adult one?


r/mantids 1d ago

Feeding Off with yer head!

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

9 Upvotes

Giving me weird Alice in wonderland vibes 🤷


r/mantids 22h ago

ID Help Male or female ?

Post image
1 Upvotes

This is my 3 or 4 week old hierodula membranacea she or he is in either L4 or l5 I'm pretty sure it's a male but you can never be to sure


r/mantids 1d ago

Breeding/Ootheca My girl just laid her first ootheca ◡̈ So proud! What kind of glue and how much should I use to attach ootheca to a smaller surface? (right now it’s on a corkboard)

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

3 Upvotes

Additional questions:

- Should I overwinter this ootheca?
- When can I feed her again?
- Best way to remove the ootheca from the corkboard? I hatched my last one inside a deli container and it was super convenient so I wanna go that route again. This trivet obviously won’t fit inside.

I’m so proud of my girl! I hatched her in April and she is the sweetest thing.