Alice - Gongylus gongylodes

[dgerndt]

I got a female Gongy, now named Alice, from Nick in the mail a few weeks ago, but I've been so busy I haven't gotten a chance to show her off to everyone. Since I've never had a Gongy before, I went a little crazy with the photos. So, without further ado, here she is!

These three pictures were taken in my bathroom because there's good lighting in there.

This was taken in my room. It was a cloudy day, so there was poor lighting. My camera likes sunlight best.

Here she is, eating a delicious bluebottle fly. She was dancing all around, I'm assuming in happiness.

This is the first enclosure I made for her. I didn't realize she would be so big, so this one was only temporary.

And here is the enclosure I have her in now. It's a nice three-gallon tank. She likes it much better.

That's it for now! Isn't she just an awesome mantis? I love her so much! Everyone who sees my mantids always like her the best. She's my princess.

 

[alicenwnderlnd]

ahhhhh..... One of my favorite mantis with my favorite name! good luck with her!

 

[warpdrive]

what a cool mantid. I also like your new set up for her. she will clearly enjoy it.

Harry

 

[patrickfraser]

Now I got to get one!

 

[Ricardo]

I screwed up with my first ooth with humidity, and as a result only have ONE of my nymphs left.

My little one is so precious! I wish he had some friends though

And how many times has Alice molted?

 

[dgerndt]

@Alice: Thanks!

@Harry: Thank you! She's been hanging from the fake purple flowers in the corner lately. I was thinking that I should add some moss to aid humidity and to make it look nicer. Paper towel is clean and easy, but it just doesn't look as nice.

@Scott: You should. They're amazing!

@Ricardo: I hope your little one makes it! I only have one Gambian left from the ooth I got for Christmas, and he's made it to L5 so far. If you take very good care of yours, I'm sure he'll make it. I'm not 100% sure how many times Alice has molted... she has wing buds, but this species gets them early from what I've heard. I think she's L5ish...

 

[hibiscusmile]

yyes she is precious!

 

[angelofdeathzz]

I love your new enclosure for her and I'm sure she does too!

Like I said the humidity is really only needed for the molting, Gongy have higher mismolt than a mantis that isn't as ornamented as them, all there leg and back plates can snag the shed.

P.S. the flies are on the way, had a long chaotic week.

Nick

 

[dgerndt]

@Rebecca: Thank you!

@Nick: I'm glad you approve of her new digs. I think she might be getting ready to molt soon. She hasn't eaten for a few days and she's just hanging out in one spot. I put a towel over half her enclosure to hold in the humidity.

Thanks again for the flies! The warm weather is finally picking up so I can soon go catch her lots o' wild food.

 

[dgerndt]

Alice decided to surprise me with a 1:00 pm molt Saturday! I was lucky enough to see it right from the beginning. Here are some photos:

And here are some pictures after she had some time to dry.

This is my brother's hand. That's why it's all dirty! :lol:

 

[patrickfraser]

So, because it's dirty (the hand), it must belong to a boy? That's sexist profiling!

Congrats to your mantis on it's successful molt and your mantis keeping skills. She couldn't have done it without you.

 

[dgerndt]

Haha! No, I just wanted you all to know that it wasn't MY dirty hand! :lol: You see my hands a lot in my pictures, and I never let them get that dirty. Oh, and thank you, Scott.