Responsibility as a hobbyist? Species longevity.

I’m curious on what your thoughts are on keep species going in our hobby.

I have two beautiful female orchid mantises in my care. An adult and a sub-adult. I know that the orchid mantis is a highly sought after mantis and as a hobbyist in the community, I should want to breed her and share the wealth. The thing is I just want to enjoy both of them as a pets. I struggle because we go through drought periods (speaking about the orchid specifically) and if I have the ability, I should right? Idk.

I’m curious and would appreciate your thoughts on this topic.

you are under no obligation to breed things just because other people want them

The only reason I'd feel obliged to breed mantises is because they're relatively short lived. With a tarantula, you're looking at years. With mantises, one year if you're lucky.

If your ready to devote much time to a hatching and chance the male will get eaten, then only if you are ready then go ahead, other wise just enjoy them. She just passed this week and was almost 2 years old.

hibiscusmile said:

If your ready to devote much time to a hatching and chance the male will get eaten, then only if you are ready then go ahead, other wise just enjoy them. She just passed this week and was almost 2 years old.

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I hear ya. The two that I have are from the breeding of my first orchid who lived about a year and a half. Called her the little Dragon because she was fierce. The breeding doesn’t bother me, but I’m not set up for the hatching. The little dragon laid 6 ooths. The first 3 didn’t hatch. Had about 24 out of the 3. Most didn’t make it after first molt and ended up with 2 left. You really have to be set up right for it!