Recent content by Velvet

I have some L3 ghost nymphs for sale in the continental US.  They are sexable at this stage. $8 each, 5 for $35, 10 for $60. Shipping is either $10 priority or $30 express - live arrival guarantee on express shipping only. Captive bred and shipped from Missouri, not for release. Pictures...

I have a few ghost mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa) oothecae for sale in the continental U.S. Ooths were laid by a mated female and have been kept at 71°F and misted every other day.  One ootheca has already hatched (29 nymphs). Price is $20 for all three.  Price already include standard USPS...

The first ootheca hatched out 7 nymphs on Saturday after incubating for 56 days.  The next morning, 22 more hatched out of the same ootheca.  No more had emerged as of this morning, but I am continuing to incubate it just in case there are any stragglers.

Absolutely!  Banshee laid her first ooth on Friday - we actually caught her in the act and got some video.  She unfortunately chose the mesh roof of her enclosure for it.  Today, I transferred it to an incubation enclosure.  I was concerned that prying it from the mesh would damage it, but it...

Just popping back in to say thanks for the help and encouragement again.   I was keeping Casper a bit warmer than usual and feeding Banshee every day.  I went out and bought a bigger terrarium tank and filled it with a fair amount of (sterilized) sticks.  Thursday, I noticed her abdomen...

Thank you both for answering.  I had thought that if inbreeding was particularly problematic, information about it would be more widespread, but I didn't just want to assume that without at least asking.  If Casper is still doing well by the time Banshee begins calling, I will probably go ahead...

So, for starters, this is my first time keeping this species and would be my first time breeding as well.  I had a male (Casper) molt successfully to adult about two weeks ago, and on Wednesday, one of the subadult females (Banshee) also had a perfect final molt. Assuming Casper can hold out...

Perhaps this is a bit past due, but my girlfriend and I ordered a L2 thistle nymph in late February and also got an L2 ghost as a free promotional "mystery mantis."  The nymphs arrived well packaged and in great condition.   That day, a freak handling accident resulted in the little ghost...

I'm always a bit wary of catching insects from outside as my complex sprays pesticides constantly. Roaches are a culture I hadn't really considered, so I will look into those, and I am confident I can keep the fruit flies going forever. I had just read a lot of threads on this board about...

I'm sure someone has asked this question before, but I was having trouble finding another thread on it. I've raised a couple of mantids before, but always in the spring.  I live in a part of the U.S. that gets both very hot summers and harsh winters.  A recent order of blue bottle pupae were...

Hello fellow mantis lovers!  I'm a college student from St. Louis, MO, USA. This is my second year raising mantids, so I consider myself relatively new to the hobby.  My first mantis found his way into my apartment somehow in late September of 2015 - my girlfriend (who had raised Tenoderas...