best ways to heat exotic mantis?

[angelofdeathzz]

I currently am using 23 watt corkscrew type fluorescent bulb in a aluiminum clamp light round reflector. temp is 90-95 under it and around 85-80 around it, placed on the wire mesh top. what is anyone else using that is energy wise? I use a large bird cage with wire mesh every where divided into nine individual cages in one.

 

[Rick]

I don't heat them directly. My mantids live above a reptile enclosure that has heat lamps. The heat rises and warms the mantids. I enclosed the shelving unit with sheathing and added a plexiglass front to it. Stays nice and toasty inside.

Before this I just kept them at room temperature which is fine for most species.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

I don't heat them directly. My mantids live above a reptile enclosure that has heat lamps. The heat rises and warms the mantids. I enclosed the shelving unit with sheathing and added a plexiglass front to it. Stays nice and toasty inside.

Before this I just kept them at room temperature which is fine for most species.

Thanks for you input Rick,I had some chameleons and a iguana named spike that did live to 12 years old, lived in a 6 ft high x 3 ft wide 2.5 ft deep plexyglass cage all done up in big branch's and fake tropical leaf's... but none now.