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Older thread: The little guys (or gals) are doing great! Got them from GlassDoor November 28. They are Indonesian double shield mantids. They have each molted five times. Possible they molted once before I got them. They are around four months old. One's slightly larger than the other and I...

We'll probably be able to tell better when they get older, right? It's funny, they have both gotten more skittish again after their last molt. When I take them out to feed/clean, they are a lot more jumpy again.

Huh, I thought for sure each of them had six segments. Doesn't matter either way... just curious as I want to give them proper names this time around. I do not want to breed them, so no worries there. Just want to enjoy them for their short lifespan. 

I had two very small mantids and the crickets were too big for them. There is nothing I can get locally that's any smaller. We will use wild feeders when the temps get warmer, but that's several months off.

It was my first time ordering them, so I was definitely disappointed. I can't get anything here in winter to feed the mantids besides crickets.

I count six except for one pic, this one. I feel like there are eight from this angle. Also, when I look at pics of them online, they seem to "flatten out" when they get older/get wings? The younger ones have that curled abdomen, but I see many other ones that are flat and with wings. Know...

Thought for sure they were both females, as per this:  they both have (or seem to have) six segments.  "Females and males both exhibit similar appearance, with females having the six abdominal segments, and males eight, females are slightly larger than males, and have shorter antennae...

Well that explains it! Thanks for the info Cosby. 

And here's Thing 2

Here's pics of Thing 1. 

That would be awesome! What part of them do you need a good shot of? The abdomen?

When they came, there was one molt in the container. They have molted two times since I've had them. I'll check out the comparison guide - thank you!! I'm happy they are slightly different colors, too. I swear, this time, I'm waiting to name them until I know the sex! Thanks for the kind...

Both are still doing really well! One is a tad bigger than the other. They have each molted three times (what does this mean, instar-wise?). I moved the slightly larger one into the large critter keeper and he ate three crickets in the first hour. :D   These pics are both of Mantis 2!

So batch two (from the same original container) never hatched. I had about 50 pupae in there. Any idea why this might have happened?

Welcome! What an awesome mantis you have :D

Thank you all for the kind words. Obviously, if anyone gets it, you people do. :) That's why we're here. It still hurts a little, but I have two Indo Double Shield mantis to care for... so onward and upward.

I keep thinking about her... it makes me sad, even though I know it was the thing to do.

She's gone. Put her outside under the snow near where I put Barry down after she passed. Gah... that was not a fun thing to do. :(

Ah, I didn’t know people did that. Is it the more humane thing to do? It’s like 5 degrees outside, so could I just place her outside?

I pronounced Bruce dead this morning, but my guest said she saw her move. Today's going to be the day, for sure.  RIP Teensie.