Mieske
Active member
Not sure why they love my front porch.... lol This makes 3 now in the past 3 weeks. Is it safe to put her in the same cage as the other female? I take it she's a Carolina to?
Another female
- Thread starter Mieske
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minomantis
Well-known member
Yes she is and I'm not sure about Carolinas. If there temperament is anything like the Chinese mantis I would say a swift no, but I'm not certain! ICongrats on another find! Completely different color as well! 
would wait for someone to answer that question about whether they are communal!
would wait for someone to answer that question about whether they are communal! 
Summerbug
Active member
Congrat's on your Carolina haven! I have to agree with Minomatis. I would say a definite NO about Carolinas being housed together. Even as nymphs, they just eat each other like you wouldn't believe! They seem more ravenous than even the Chinese mantis. The females are especially hungry (all the time). Your green girl in the photo looks plump and ready to produce an ooth. Once she does, she'll be even more hungry!
Mieske
Active member
Ahhh... ok. Thanks guys. Much appreciated
Indeed in the photo is a gravid Stagmomantis carolina, and should lay in the next few days at most. Even species that are communal will still give into cannibalism occasionally, and the only way to ensure your pets survive is to house them separately.
Carolina's are though not communal at all, and are cannibalistic like most other species. Although, from my hundreds of wild collected mantids and near 100 ooths hatched and raised between those two species, the Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) is by far the most cannibalistic species and normally eats at least 5 times more feeders than the much smaller Carolina mantis. After all the Chinese mantis usually comes in around 4" in length and much more girth, than the 1.75" to 2" long Carolina's.
Carolina's are though not communal at all, and are cannibalistic like most other species. Although, from my hundreds of wild collected mantids and near 100 ooths hatched and raised between those two species, the Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) is by far the most cannibalistic species and normally eats at least 5 times more feeders than the much smaller Carolina mantis.
After all the Chinese mantis usually comes in around 4" in length and much more girth, than the 1.75" to 2" long Carolina's.
Mieske
Active member
I know i probably shouldn't, but I do have both in there. They've been together for a couple of days now. They haven't fust with each other. I keep them fed with tons of moths. They both stay at opposite ends of the inside lid. Not much movement. I'll try to devise a little wall to get them separated when I can get time away from working all the time.
I have some plastic screen wich works without gluing, keep up updated on them, i know I for one could use some ooths.
They are not moving as they don't want to attract the attention/wraith of the other mantis, with both being females either could win the fight (a male always looses as they are much smaller).
Some other ideas for a divider wall is cutting up a cardboard box, a paper folder, foam poster board, one of the square cat litter pail sides, etc. If you can cut it to fit close enough, the gravel substrate (I think that was your habitat bottom) will hold it in place, if not a few drops of hot glue will secure it and be easy to remove later.
I recommend a solid/opaque divider wall so they will not be stressed when laying their ooths, as that is a very vulnerable time for them. As Rick said in another thread he witnessed one being ate in the wild while laying a ooth, so it is a concern for them (much like molting).
Mieske
Active member
Ok... I have cardboard for now. I'll cut it.. thanks
