Better grip than paper towel?

[JoeCapricorn]

Is there a material that a mantis can cling to better than paper towel?

This is serious and urgent (which explains the lots of exclamation marks). Fortune mismolted and fell, now is crippled. My update thread has more on that. I want to prevent this from ever happening again. Fortune had fell before, before molting, earlier today. Kit fell after she molted. I've seen Angel on the bottom pawing at the sides. Meek is close to molting and I will keep an eye on him.

IS there a better material? What is it?

Sandpaper? or duct tape? Something that a mantis does not lose grip off of as easily as paper towel, since a paper towel can get moist and maybe be less grippable?

Net-cages. They are made of stuff. Can I find that stuff and put that on top of my mantis enclosures? ( I know... stuff... can't find the word for it... maybe netting?)

 

[Colorcham427]

Is there a material that a mantis can cling to better than paper towel?

This is serious and urgent (which explains the lots of exclamation marks). Fortune mismolted and fell, now is crippled. My update thread has more on that. I want to prevent this from ever happening again. Fortune had fell before, before molting, earlier today. Kit fell after she molted. I've seen Angel on the bottom pawing at the sides. Meek is close to molting and I will keep an eye on him.

IS there a better material? What is it?

Sandpaper? or duct tape? Something that a mantis does not lose grip off of as easily as paper towel, since a paper towel can get moist and maybe be less grippable?

Net-cages. They are made of stuff. Can I find that stuff and put that on top of my mantis enclosures? ( I know... stuff... can't find the word for it... maybe netting?)

A VERY thin framed mesh. Craft stores sell them.

If I were you I'd go ahead and buy a net cube, theyrn't that pricey.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Instead of netting, which might be hard to attach effectively, you might want to try a few pieces of rough bark (just rip them off the tree when the owner isn't looking, if you have to!). Mantids appear to navigate this sort of surface with ease in nature. Another excellent climbing surface is a loose piece of untreated raffia, such as Yen uses. You can get the untreated kind at Michaels, though I know of several people who buy raffia hula skirts on the Internet. If you live where there are palm trees, you can use the dead, dry fronds that blow off in every high wind, to the same effect. Just shred them first.

 

[sbugir]

Cheese cloth.

 

[JoeCapricorn]

I live in Pennsylvania. Lots of trees here, Hickory bark would do! No net cubes, I am concerned about humidity control, it is dry in my room (although summer may change this). Netting will not be hard to attach, since I hold the paper towel basically in between the lid and container, I'd do the same with netting. I don't use glue or any adhesives, with paper towel I might spray the top, but only to attach it, it'll dry firm there.

 

[Rick]

Are you using paper towel on the top of the enclosure? When speaking of 32 oz insect cups, I find for small mantids the normal lid works just fine. However, when they get bigger I hot glue a piece of fiberglass screen to the underside of the lid. It can also be glued to the sides to provide a gripping surface. You can buy entire rolls of the stuff for less than $10.

 

[massaman]

using tree branches would work to or scrap wood!

 

[hibiscusmile]

If you got them, or someone u know has them, dont go stealing them off the clotheslines next door, I know Phil would tell u too

, use panty hose! Nothing is better than the nylon they make them with, my hands are really rough, and once I touch a pair, it takes two of us to unhook me

 

[JoeCapricorn]

I went away for a hockey game, I quick guided Meek onto a sock. He hasn't molted yet,but he looks close, and now that I am back I can watch him intently.

I went with the panty hose suggestion, my mom has lots of old pair that she doesn't use anymore. Or at least, I hope this is one she doesn't use anymore o_______________o