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You can get most species for $5-$10 a nymph but it can take time finding specific species. If you want to get the best bang for your buck I suggest being flexible. Get a nice list of species you want to try and keep an eye on places like the selling subforum, picking up different ones as they...

Your mantis isn't depressed. If he is truly acting lethargic likely there is something health wise wrong with him or something wrong with his environment. Since he sounds like he is eating and passing waste properly however and I am guessing you are keeping him in the same conditions as before...

Hahaha as a kid I hatched out a number of Tenodera sinensis ootheca and I never did anything with them outside of hanging them up in my containers and they still hatched wonderfully. People complain about this species mortality rate, but I've never had a problem getting robust individuals to...

My advice, just don't do it. There is nothing special to gain from feeding your mantis vertebrates. Mantises don't kill their food before eating leaving something with the nervous system of a vertebrate to suffer considerably before they die.

If he was already hanging on the lid by himself then chances are he will be alright. While it is not ideal to fiddle with them directly after shedding, usually they will be fine as long as they have gotten to the stage where they have fully removed themselves from the skin.

On discussion of protein in roaches, a study has been done that found too high of a protein diet could kill roaches. The study wasn't done on Dubias specifically. What was found is that the roaches were not able to pass excess uric acid, which is a byproduct of consuming protein. While nymphs...

I found Brunners to be one of those few species that doesn't do well with net caging for molting. My first sub adult fell during molt. Thankfully I was there when it happened and was able to hold her and get her through the shedding. I would suggest as others have to use sticks. I also found the...

I do think T. sinensis are a species that can benefit from larger enclosures as they are very active. I use almost exclusively net type cages and I have never had a praying mantis chew through the netting. That being said, you don't have to fully remove the screen.You can hotglue another surface...

I've never seen any evidence to prove carrots are a problem. I fed my crickets carrots and my roaches get them, and I've never had an issue with mysterious deaths. That being said I am a fan of variety so I would probably rotate out different fruits/veggies or offer a couple different kinds.

I suggest adding some springtails. They will keep your eco earth mold free while allowing you to keep it slightly moist for humidity.

He should be fine. He might not have even fallen but jumped down because the water caught him off guard. Smaller nymphs can be swept away by droplets but the larger ones tend to just flick their claws in disgust as they shake off the excess.

If handling stresses you out I would suggest laying a couple of white towels down on the floor and sitting down there with the mantis. The white towels will make it easy to spot your mantis if he jumps off. If your hands shake set your hand down on your lap or the floor and just rest it there...

Yep, it tends to be either thirst or they think they sense something on your hand that would be tasty. Any time I have been handling fruit shortly prior to handling I always tend to get test nibbling. Thankfully most are super gentle about it, but occasionally you will get one that will go from...

If you are using glass containers it is imperative you keep them out of direct sunlight. In the shade with a well ventilated lid they should be fine, but get any direct sunlight on the glass and there is way too much risk of overheating. Make sure you mention this to anyone who buys one. I would...

Ghost mantises are a pretty hardy mantis despite their looks. I've found they tend to do fine at room temperature (unless the room is super cold) with daily misting. If however you find the air is getting really dry where you are because of running heaters and the like during winter, than yes, I...

Rub spots don't necessarily mean the mantis is blind. A lot of time even with large rub spots they can still see fine. I'm more concerned with the fact in the photo it looks like she might also have a black spot on her mouth and that with the description of the texture to the eye spots makes me...

I'm a fan of their row boat walk myself. The boxer mantises often remind me of geishas only with claws instead of fans. Actually I vote we rename them because boxing is the last thing I think of when looking at their intricate claw displays.

He is merely practicing his yoga. That is the twig position. :P Mantises will sometimes flatten themselves out that way to better blend in with surround twigs/vegetation. He is merely saying, nothing to see here I am but a simple twig, no need to chew on me I taste terrible. Sometimes they...

How early you can sex with the naked eye tends to vary depending on species. There are some mantises I can start to sex as early as L1 and others that I find myself second guessing constantly until they hit L4-L5. Personally I've found Chinese mantises to be one of the ones that has harder to...

That was what I was thinking, although I'm mot sure if there will be enough activity for its own subforum. I've noticed that a lot of people that do breed/have native species tend to be way more lowkey about selling often. I'm guessing a lot of times it is just easier to release the extras...