Recent content by Bex

Quick update- Reaper Man is still choosing to hang upside down at the front of the enclosure and stare out into the living room. He did, however, spend some time looking at the cork bark... Instead of climbing it. Oh well! He seems happy and content, and now when he goes for a stroll (which...

So, I recently got my first tarantula, an A. avicularia. And as it is an arboreal species, I built it an enclosure to match! But... Then I started looking at Reaper Man's enclosure. It was fine, but he only had acrylic to climb up. The plant was looking sad... So I gave him a makeover! Still...

Just wanted to share this awesome pic I snapped! I said hi to him like, an hour ago, played some games. And I turn around and there he is! Already almost all the way out of his molt! He's so BIG- I swear he's like, doubled in size with this one! And just about right on time, too, I think. It's...

Hi! I believe he is L4 (my profile picture is of him before he molted so he is quite a bit bigger now). I got mini ones so the one I gave him was pretty small.

Yeah- I'm super glad he took it. I was a bit worried about it like, biting him, but he took it down like a champ. I ordered mine from Josh's Frogs- they're shipping, but it snowed like crazy here yesterday into midday today. So I can't really blame them.

Bad weather has seriously delayed my feeders, and Reaper Man here hasn't eaten in days. Fruit flies don't seem to be cutting it for him anymore, and I ordered some bigger flies, but they won't be here for a bit. So! Mealworms. Easily available, and they had really small ones. I was a bit...

Yeah, I figured. He's spent all day just relaxing on the roof, but he gave me a little dance when I got home from work. I'm so happy he's such an active little dude! And hey- now I know what behavior changes to look for when he comes up on his next molt!

Hey guys! I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced their mantis having more energy after a molt? When I first got Reaper Man he was responsive, but he molted on Friday and he has been SUPER active since then. He's exploring his enclosure, he's moving towards prey to set up an ambush...

I wanted to share a little update on Reaper Man- he surprised me this morning! I noticed yesterday that he wasn't eating. Normally he goes IN on those fruit flies, but he was just letting them wander right on by- a couple even walked over his feet! I wondered if maybe he had injured himself (he...

Hi all. I was planning on moving Reaper, my Ghost Mantis, into a smaller enclosure. I think he's L3, based on his size, and I have him in an enclosure that I thought was going to be too large for him. It's certainly big, but my main concern was him being able to find and catch his food, and so...

I've been thinking about this, if I need it. Friend who owns a snake and knows quite a bit about inverts as well advised this, along with a little thermostat control for it to prevent overheating. My only concern is that I use acrylic enclosures, not glass, and I'm not sure how the shelf I have...

Good to know. It usually sits around 68 to 70 in here overnight, and warmer during the day (like, 71 in general and up to 74 under the lights), but sometimes it just gets COLD. I've had some plants suffer because of it in the past. I guess if I really had to, I could also move my mantis even...

The site I bought him from sold him as a male. While it's a bit hard to count his abdominal segments, the shape of his head crest matches up with a male Ghost. And yeah- while I do want to move him somewhere smaller, I think he's digging his new home. He's been hanging upside down since last...

Thanks! Yeah, it'll be easier for him to hunt for sure. I'm impressed, though- he picked up on the spot where the flies were congregating and centered himself around there real quick. Ate three yesterday and looks pretty happy. I'll probably give him more tomorrow, as the care guide I'm using...

Hey all! I have a quick question about lighting that I haven't been able to find a solid answer for. I have some grow lights that I have been using for my plants. They don't generate a ton of heat, but they keep the shelf my mantis is on at a nice 70-75 degrees, depending on the temperature of...