Best communal mantid species ?

[cloud jaguar]

I was wondering what species of mantids that tolerate communal living arrangements are your favorite and why? What is it like to have a community of them?

GHOSTS: I understand these mostly just sit around looking cool and walking cryptically. What are some neat things about these ones that you like to watch them do? Do they have any particular behaviors that you like?

SIBYLLA PRETIOSA: These ones look pretty cool - i like the scrollwork on their heads. Has anyone raised these? How do they act that you like? Do they do any cool or creepy stuff that other mantids do not do?

GAMBIAN SPOTTED EYE: These little guys look pretty cool to me. They sure do seem small though. Do these have separate personalities or they seem to just act similar?

CREOBOTER: How are these ones different from Gambian spotted eye?

EGYPTIAN PIGMY: These ones i like. Have you any observations about these ones? How breedy are these?

ANT MANTIS: Are these just super cool, or so small you need a magnifier just to see them? I like small creatures but, geez... these guys look microscopic! Anyone know about how these are communally?

THAT is all of the communal mantids i know about -- are there any more that I am omitting ? Thanks for telling me about your favorite communal mantid.

~Arkanis

 

[hibiscusmile]

B) I like watching the ghost when you have them on your hand and they walk, its like watching a rickiety old man trying to get to the table to eat... lol, it takes a step forward and sways backwards and sways forward and steps backwards! Then if u give them some honey, they wag their butt! :lol: just to much fun for me

 

[ABbuggin]

I was wondering what species of mantids that tolerate communal living arrangements are your favorite and why? What is it like to have a community of them?SIBYLLA PRETIOSA: These ones look pretty cool - i like the scrollwork on their heads. Has anyone raised these? How do they act that you like? Do they do any cool or creepy stuff that other mantids do not do?

GONGYLUS GONGYLODES: Just stunning. Thats pretty much sums them up, excellent at catching flying insects. Every morning when I look at them, I'm always wowed even if the 50th time I've been wowed. They walk and run on their rear 4 legs at a very fast rate, stop and start all over again. :lol:

PSUDOVATES ARIZONAE: VERY cool! They are very colorful, and have very thick legs! Surprisingly (to me) the public finds these to be the most beautiful mantids I've ever owned :blink: :wacko: (I do insect presentations with my local museum) These guys are always trying to act "cool", they seem to be the most "happy" mantid I've had and are very photogenic. (the sit in funny positions)

I commented on one of the sp. you listed and a few others. Whats great is I'll have all 3 for sale in just a few months from now (all are either sub-adults or adults)

 

[Orin]

I vote for either US Pseudovates or Phyllovates. The nymphs are really tolerant though adult females don't mind snacking on males.

GHOSTS, SIBYLLA PRETIOSA, GAMBIAN SPOTTED EYE, CREOBOTER, EGYPTIAN PIGMY. I wouldn't really consider any of these as communal, maybe the ghosts.

 

[Hypoponera]

I vote for Pseudovates peruviana. The females I had never touched the males in a "food" way! Plus the males lasted longer then the females age wise. But the US Pseudovates and Phyllovates are not a bad choice, and far easier to get ahold of!

 

[Kruszakus]

Didymocorypha - their raptorial arms are so tiny, that it makes it almost impossible for the females to eat each other - and if well fed, they usually don't attack the males - plus, they are so slender, that you can keep fairly large numbes in a smaller enclosure. And what is fun - you can feed adults D. hydei and small waxmoths only - the best diet for them