Being a Mantis Breeder...

[blitzmantis]

To all the Mantid Breeders out there, is breeding mantids:

1. Interesting?

2. Profitable if you sell some of the nymphs?

3. Hard work?

I'm considering breeding and selling but I'm not sure it's all worth it.

 

[Andrew]

Certainly not profitable. You might just make enough to break even. Can be hard work depending on how many you are raising.

 

[blitzmantis]

So why do so many breed them?

 

[Andrew]

Because its fun.

 

[obregon562]

You can make a profit with enough time, but i dont know of anyone whose entire income depends soley on mantids alone.

Im just starting to breed, and it's because:

a) it's fun

B) you can pocket a few dollars (i think my mantids can pay for a nice dinner every now and again)

c) i enjoy helping out other people and making them happy

 

[macro junkie]

to earn alot of money of it u would have to breed mantids like idols,orhids,,and to make enough money u would have to breed alot..and to breed that much is a full time job..seriously..to breed enough mantids to make a tidy living from it u would be at it all day...im aiming for this..i have a 8ft x 8ft shed thats empty waitingf for me to move in to it..i dont work..so i have alot of time to do it..im just slowly building up my stock..it takes time.my guees is by next year i should have enough breeding that i constantly have nympths and ooths for sale.For me im concentrating on all the flowermantid species..this is what interests me..

so answer to your Q for me is

1.Yes

2.Yes

3.Yes

to breed it takes time and dedication..if your not willing to put 110% in to it i wouldn't bother doing it.if u have a full time job 9-5 mon-fri then u could get away with a few and only breeding for enjoyment but to make money from it u would have to concentrate all your time on it.its alot of work..

 

[king_frog]

Well, breeding, would become your hobby, something you enjoy. And i know for a fact you enjoy mantids .

 

[Gurd]

1. Yes very interesting, I doubt it's something that you can ever know everything about so you are always learning.

2. No it's more of an odd bonus from your hobby

3. The more you put in the more you get out

 

[yen_saw]

For me it is lot of fun rearing/breeding mantis. I can make more money if i spend the free time working as oil&gas consultant so money making is definately not my priority. It takes lot of effort and time definately. I have seen some people quiting mantis for other less time consuming bugs like tarantula, phasmid, beetles, etc so brace yourself for it if you plan to keep more than 5 species and thrive with them. Nevertheless, this hobby has grown tremendously since this forum started and has definately been promoted well here.

So my answer would be

1. Very

2. Gain some and lose some to people who i have shipped or paid in advance

3. Definately

Just wanna take this opportunity to say that i am not making a living from selling mantis as i have received some PM asking me this question. My full time job from 7:30am to 5:30pm is the one that really put food on the table.

 

[blitzmantis]

Well since I've got no job, 1/4 of the year I'm not going school and I have a lot of free time on my hands, I don't see why I should not breed mantids. I'll start off with something simple (any ideas?) and then try and at least get my money back from all the stuff I buy for my mantids. I'll just try it but it won't ever become a living, just a hobby. Oh, and yes King Frog, if I want a site for selling mantids, you will be the one to make it

 

[macro junkie]

Just wanna take this opportunity to say that i am not making a living from selling mantis as i have received some PM asking me this question. My full time job from 7:30am to 5:30pm is the one that really put food on the table.

omg..u work 7.30-5.30 then u come home and deal with all your mantids..erm..do u ever sleep?lol :lol:

 

[macro junkie]

Well since I've got no job, 1/4 of the year I'm not going school and I have a lot of free time on my hands, I don't see why I should not breed mantids. I'll start off with something simple (any ideas?) and then try and at least get my money back from all the stuff I buy for my mantids. I'll just try it but it won't ever become a living, just a hobby. Oh, and yes King Frog, if I want a site for selling mantids, you will be the one to make it

well for me i breed them for macro photography..but if i can make a bit of money along the way its all good..if the mantids wasnt worth 1 penny i would still do it..i love the Hobbie so much.

 

[Rick]

I've only made enough money to buy supplies and feeder insects.

 

[Hypoponera]

I am with Rick. The little money I have made is usually spent on the mantids. I use it to buy feeders, supplies and other mantids! I have yet to make enough to cover even the costs of feeders alone. I don't EVER expect to "turn a profit".

 

[joossa]

^Ditto! You need to be a prolific breeder of rare species in order to get what would be considered a decent profit. Even then it still might be difficult. It is important to distinguish hobby from job in this case.

The hobby can be fun and exciting, but it can also be tiresome and time consuming. I grow carnivorous and succulent plants, keep mantids, work, and am a full time university undergrad. Balancing time (and money for that matter) is essential. Overall, I do it because of my love for the bugs!

 

[yen_saw]

omg..u work 7.30-5.30 then u come home and deal with all your mantids..erm..do u ever sleep?lol :lol:

Hardly MJ Wish there are 48hrs in a day :lol: actually i do get 6-7 hr sleep a day, but the rest of the time pretty occupied.

Balancing time (and money for that matter) is essential.

THat's it Joossa!! and you are doing one heck of a job yourself too. Keep it up and stay healthy.

 

[Mantida]

Yen, I'm sure you've made TONS in the past four years you've been in mantis.

It is enjoyable to breed mantids so you don't have to keep buying them. But, sometimes it is hard to sell particular species that seem to have "exhausted" out their popularity. If you don't sell them off quick enough you'll find yourself overrun (which is my situation right now).

 

[obregon562]

it is all about managment and timing, as previously stated. Like any other money hobby. And making friends doesn't hur either.

Mantida, what are these "exhausted" species in your opinion? Be interesting to hear from everyone too...

 

[Mantida]

it is all about managment and timing, as previously stated. Like any other money hobby. And making friends doesn't hur either. Mantida, what are these "exhausted" species in your opinion? Be interesting to hear from everyone too...

I agree, timing is almost everything in this hobby - if you can get a species to reproduce that's in a big boom at the time, you'll make quite a bit.

Right now for me it's P. virescens. Trying to sell them for a month and no luck even at fair prices and lots of advertising at various places.