By the way *from the feeder mantis guy*

[Small Pet Feeders]

I LOVE my mantids!! They're so attentive! I can see why everyone had such an issue with feeding these handsome little devils. Thank you Mantid Forum for my new found hobby

 

[frogparty]

They're awesome aren't they?

 

[lunarstorm]

Glad you're enjoying 'em! And even moreso that you didn't let the intial drama get to you and have opted to continue participating in the forums.

 

[patrickfraser]

I'm glad I could help. My silkworms are big enough to see now. :detective:

 

[gripen]

it was just the initiation ritual! lol! glad you like em.

 

[Chivalry]

Glad I didn't get hazed Got pictures?

 

[Small Pet Feeders]

My chinese ooth just hatched with like 200 mantis! Lol I have a few more if someone wants one. I'll throw one in for free with anyone's order that requests it on SmallPetFeeders.com.

My mantis are still nymphs, but Patrick set me up with some cool ones. How big do they get?

 

[Ntsees]

...My mantis are still nymphs, but Patrick set me up with some cool ones. How big do they get?

From what I've seen and heard on the forum, it tends to average at 4 inches. Some are slightly larger and some are smaller.

 

[Small Pet Feeders]

That's awesome! I can't wait! These guys are so cool..but I see what y'all meant by being a bit difficult to raise for feeders. Although I had all those Chinese nymphs, only like 30 are left, I think I killed them with water, are nymphs very fragile?

 

[lancaster1313]

Tenodera sinensis tend to have a large hatch rate and a large die off in the first week or so. I think it is typical for that species when raised in captivity. In the wild, there will probably be even less of a survival rate.

Sounds like you are doing well, so far. hone: Just keep your mist as fine as possible and try not to let the water gather into large droplets while the nymphs are tiny.

Insects breathe through spiracles in their abdomens, so if the nymphs abdomens are stuck to water drops, they are drowning.

 

[ShieldMantid1997]

Insects breathe through spiracles in their abdomens, so if the nymphs abdomens are stuck to water drops, they are drowning.

Is that why on my larger species like sphodromantis lineola, it looks like they are breathing through vents that go in and out?

 

[frogparty]

Spiracles do open and close.