Calling for previous owners of Giant African Mantids!

Hello and good day community!

This posting is in regards to the species Sphodromantis Viridis ( Giant African Mantis.)

I have recently received a L2 nymph of this specific specie and have come to notice that since the day of arrival its spent a large majority sticking to the ground rather than the sticks/twigs/ and plants in its enclosure. Its eating normally... Its even molted to L3, and honestly when it did it was probably the most time ive seen it off of the ground.

I'm just searching around for information in regarding if this is normal behavior in the specie, if something's not right, or if I was just lucky enough to catch the oddball of the hatch

Anyway, any and all input would be most appropriated.

Some of my 1st and 2nd instar nymphs (about 20%)are doing this too... So it could be normal for this species.

It is pretty strange, this is the first mantis I've owned that's ever done this. Ive had the nymph nearly a week now, and even at this moment its just standing there.

Mine are on the bottom a lot also.. I went to go get a pic... and they were on the sides!!! go figure??...

Lol@dmina

funny how they move when you DON'T want them to lol, ive been trying to upload a photo in this thread but it keeps telling me theres an error uploading. :|

edit: I also wanted to add that I've noticed it more or less " tackles" its prey rather than catching it, which I thought was pretty neat! Can't wait for it to get bigger. Ive taken a few photos but I have to upload them through my PC ( digital cam ), I'll probably get around to doing that tomorrow after all the eating.

LAME said:

Lol@dmina

funny how they move when you DON'T want them to lol, ive been trying to upload a photo in this thread but it keeps telling me theres an error uploading. :|

edit: I also wanted to add that I've noticed it more or less " tackles" its prey rather than catching it, which I thought was pretty neat! Can't wait for it to get bigger. Ive taken a few photos but I have to upload them through my PC ( digital cam ), I'll probably get around to doing that tomorrow after all the eating.

Click to expand...

Interesting! im curious to see! Are you able to record video on that camera? do you have a youtube account?

I can take hd videos off my cellphone. Not a YouTube account, but I can find a way to email it to you.

LAME said:

I can take hd videos off my cellphone. Not a YouTube account, but I can find a way to email it to you.

Click to expand...

Thatd be cool!

LAME said:

Lol@dmina

funny how they move when you DON'T want them to lol, ive been trying to upload a photo in this thread but it keeps telling me theres an error uploading. :|

edit: I also wanted to add that I've noticed it more or less " tackles" its prey rather than catching it, which I thought was pretty neat! Can't wait for it to get bigger. Ive taken a few photos but I have to upload them through my PC ( digital cam ), I'll probably get around to doing that tomorrow after all the eating.

Click to expand...

I have seen the tackle attack also...