Beginner/Novice Pet Owner

[ajcc323]

Hey guys! I'm dying to know more about Ghost Mantids before I begin. So here goes!

How long is their life span? Are they the same with the Religiosa where they lay eggs before they die during the winter?

I live in NY, in the temperate zone, and I'm aware that the Ghost Mantids come from a humid/tropical region, is it going to be a problem raising them here?

I bumped into a few topics here in the forums, and I was wondering how I could keep the Mantids alive considering my house having bad insulation (the cold still seeps in unfortunately, what can I say... its an old house ...).

If they do lay eggs and die off during winter time I guess that won't be a problem. Problem would be I'll have to wait for them to hatch till next spring (which I can't wait that long lol)

I really want to get started ASAP. But right now I want to know the best way to setup a terrarium/home for it. I like how some of you guys have them setup in terrariums as homes.

I'm looking to house my mantids in a terrarium. Now my questions are:

I'm aware that in a terrarium you can use lighting for heat, can you use heatpads? 24/7 lighting would be kind of annoying inside my room.

Another thing to maintain is the humidity, is there a machine that can control humidity? Automated would be nice... just add water and leave it.

Also, what's the best type of soil/vegetation to add for a small terrarium environment with little or no maintenance (fungus and out of control algae is a biggie)...

And with live food for the mantids, what is your method of keeping them abundant? or do you run to the pet store constantly for mealworms, crickets or flies?

I know I'm asking alot of questions, I'm just too excited right now haha.

Hope to hear from you guys

Andre

 

[Rick]

Hey guys! I'm dying to know more about Ghost Mantids before I begin. So here goes!

How long is their life span? Are they the same with the Religiosa where they lay eggs before they die during the winter?

I live in NY, in the temperate zone, and I'm aware that the Ghost Mantids come from a humid/tropical region, is it going to be a problem raising them here?

I bumped into a few topics here in the forums, and I was wondering how I could keep the Mantids alive considering my house having bad insulation (the cold still seeps in unfortunately, what can I say... its an old house ...).

If they do lay eggs and die off during winter time I guess that won't be a problem. Problem would be I'll have to wait for them to hatch till next spring (which I can't wait that long lol)

I really want to get started ASAP. But right now I want to know the best way to setup a terrarium/home for it. I like how some of you guys have them setup in terrariums as homes.

I'm looking to house my mantids in a terrarium. Now my questions are:

I'm aware that in a terrarium you can use lighting for heat, can you use heatpads? 24/7 lighting would be kind of annoying inside my room.

Another thing to maintain is the humidity, is there a machine that can control humidity? Automated would be nice... just add water and leave it.

Also, what's the best type of soil/vegetation to add for a small terrarium environment with little or no maintenance (fungus and out of control algae is a biggie)...

And with live food for the mantids, what is your method of keeping them abundant? or do you run to the pet store constantly for mealworms, crickets or flies?

I know I'm asking alot of questions, I'm just too excited right now haha.

Hope to hear from you guys

Andre

Also be sure to use the search. All of your questions have been answered in the past. I will keep this brief and general. I have not kept ghost mantids in awhile.

Lifespan depends on the species. Some live a season (few months) and some can live up to a year. Only temperate species live a season and then die off while the eggs overwinter. You will be able to keep mantids regardless of your climate. You can maintain warm temps in the winter by using heat lamps or pads. Room temps above 70 are fine for most mantids.

If you're keeping temperate species, the eggs won't necessarily hatch in spring. If the ooth is kept indoors most species will hatch in 6-8 weeks. There are a few species that require a cold period.

I personally like to use the 32 oz insect cups for mantids. Terrariums are cool but are often impractical when you keep a lot of mantids. You can make a standard type terrarium with plants, a substrate, etc. Find out what kind of habitat the mantis you are interested in likes before deciding on a type of terrarium.

Unless your room is really cold, a regular fixture and bulb can work. They don't need fancy lighting. As far as humidity goes, a simple spray bottle works well. I mist once a day.

Most of us use crickets, roaches, and flies as food. Mealworms are a poor choice. Some species prefer only flying food while others are more general in their eating habits. I order fly larva and let them hatch into flies. For baby mantids you tend to use fruitflies. You can keep ordering cultures when they die out, but most of us culture our own from an initial culture. It is very easy to do and you can order all the stuff. I don't ever go into a pet store for feeders, the internet has a better selection and is cheaper.

 

[hibiscusmile]

hello, glad Rick got to u first :tt2: welcome!