Search results

I like eco earth / plantation soil (coconut husk fiber). It holds moisture well and I can keep springtails in it for janitorial work. Mealworms will burrow though so if you use them you either need to hand feed or have a way to keep them on the surface... like a feeding dish

Selling products as a business without paying taxes is federal tax evasion - I'd be very concerned Rick. heck I am very concerned which is why I pay each year for a business name and track any purchases and sales carefully. That said I think these are all issues of concern and none should be...

Alright definitely check in to each of the points I raised then, because by opening a storefront you are considered, legally speaking, a business. You may need a business license, and you probably need to report earnings (and pay income/self-employment/other taxes). Again you can forgo all...

Size of an operation is not a factor in legality. First check Florida statutes (I'm unfamiliar with them). You may need a permit to export, and it's even possible your state requires you check for recipient permits before sale. Also you need to check/confirm/state they are for captive keeping...

Anything wild caught and healthy looking (if you catch a grasshopper and it's acting half dead, steer clear), or anything you captive breed and feed fresh produce. Our main staple is fruit flies and/or springtails followed by crickets and mealworms (I have a specific thread for my set ups...

Rule of thumb is 2x his/her length for the width and depth of the container, and 3x his/her length for the height. So that container is appropriate for 1-1/4" mantids only. I'd say you want at a minimum 6x6x9. Seek out 128 oz containers, they should be pretty close to the dimensions you need.

You can get a UV-B lamp. Check the reptile section of a pet store, or ask a reptile keeper, as it's actually a very important aspect of keeping snakes and lizards. I don't have one, and my Chinese mantids are freaking huge - so I'm going to say it's all about heat and diet. Feed them nothing...

My guys love mealworms. Try to hand feed one, once they nibble the exoskeleton off and figure out what's inside for the first time - they won't leave them alone. They look like sword swallowers or a kid eating go-gurt :) Just make sure the mantis is ready. Mealworms have some thrash to...

I almost feel like you should re-read my post because I think I covered this, but I'll recap for you. Even if legally you can bring and keep a mantis in Oregon, the airline may not allow it on a plane (which is a totally separate, private sector, and arbitrary policy). You could present the...

Mantids are not considered exotic pets according to ORS 609.319 (definition is 609.305) so you won't have permit issues, however airlines can enforce whatever policies they want (within legal limits of course), and employees can (and likely will) misunderstand their own policies so regardless of...

General care best shot I think I can do, assuming US climate: Keep things warm, at least high 70s, maybe 80 degrees (F). Humidity should be 40-60%. Keep in mind 60% humidity in a 90 degree room is *very* swampy because hot air can hold more moisture and relative humidity is a measure of how...

I often do the same thing, we have some dowels from the hardware store (3/8"), cut to maybe six or eight inches. It works well to give them a nice surface and not pressure them too much. Plus if they really want to stay on the stick you can just set it in whole back in their habitat instead of...

Sure thing

Oh that we just cut off the plants from the front yard

I've scavenged... You can get 10 gallon glass tanks at Petco/Petsmart for around $12 or as little as half that when they are on sale. The deli style cups (I have 8, 16, and 32 oz), can be bought by restaurant/deli supply stores or mantid/reptile sites. If you go with the restaurant/deli angle...

Hey Rick I seem to remember you asking for shots of the parasitic wasp? Well lucky you, someone sent me a bunch of oothecae and at least one was infected... so I can take some pictures so long as you are more interested in the babies coming out and running amok.

There's a difference between feeling threatened and feeling stressed. Over-handling for example can stress them out but isn't really a "threatened" type of response. They sound like unappreciative teens, try taking away their car for the weekend and tell them to shape up and practice for their...

That's me too - I don't have a ton of experience with T. sinensis but I'd say I've handled at least 200 to adult and handled them enough that any biting would probably have shown itself. My guys and girls are very socialized though, maybe that matters. I'd guess to bite they would have to be...

Going to have to jump on this same bandwagon - due to no response. I tried to wait a few days to see how he wants to proceed, but I'm not hearing back and now I see others are having the same issues. **BUYER BEWARE** Ordered five nymphs, he sent exactly five and one did not survive, two more...

The link should go to an always current page, as I add more to that album they'll show up :) I really need to finalize the wiring, it's still that ball of mess as seen in a picture