chinese mantids, new to hobby

[wyethia]

I have been reading through the forums and trying to find answers to my questions because I know they've been asked before, but I'm hoping you all don't mind me just asking! I'm new to mantids (have had flower mantids before and raised three to adult and am a long-term tarantula keeper). I just hatched a chinese mantis ooth--got them as a fun activity for my daughter, but, of course, I'm the one obsessed! I have a billizion little babies running around a large mesh butterfly keeper right now (they just hatched last night)...I was planning on releasing most of them into my friends garden, but I want to keep 5-6 to adult and want to help my daughters teacher raise a few in her classroom.

* I just read a post that said that it is really common to lose a lot of chinese mantids as they grow, so I'm trying to figure out now how many to keep? I have the large mesh enclosure, a smaller mesh enclosure and have access to various size deli containers. The container has a ficus in it right now, so lots of hiding space (yes, I'm in for a treat when transferring these little ones

* I have gathered that I should be misting these with very warm water 2 x day? I have fruit fly cultures coming in a day. How soon should I be looking to get larger feeders?

* My other question is, if I want to get ghosts or other lovelies, should I be buying right now--are there going to still be mantises available by next month? I'm not sure how seasonal mantis availability is. I really would love to have some little ghosts, they look just amazing!

thank you all!

Wyethia

 

[hibiscusmile]

Hello you with the new name I can't spell!

There is usually a lot of loses between (Oh , pardon me, welcome!) the first couple of molts, you will need ffs by third morning or dinner will be on their backs!

I would keep them all until the next molt, and keep the best looking ones for what u need, at least 2 dozen that should help u end up with a handful. Misting them is important, and try not to give them a cold shower, really hot water is cold when sprayed!

We breed a lot of our mantis, all that we can actually, so anytime is good, I have an overabundance of ghost right now myself! I think they are on special today for 5 for 15.00 or 3 each! can't beat that with a stick!

 

[Rick]

If you want 5-6 adults then you will need to keep all of them. Normally with an ooth you MIGHT get a few adults in the end. Welcome.

 

[wyethia]

If you want 5-6 adults then you will need to keep all of them. Normally with an ooth you MIGHT get a few adults in the end. Welcome.

Thank you both for your replies! Wow, it is amazing that they have that high losses. my knowledge is skewed by having the flower mantids do so well. Should try dividing them up into a lot of separate deli's at this stage or let nature take its course until after the first molt?

thank you!

Wyethia

 

[Rick]

Thank you both for your replies! Wow, it is amazing that they have that high losses. my knowledge is skewed by having the flower mantids do so well. Should try dividing them up into a lot of separate deli's at this stage or let nature take its course until after the first molt?

thank you!

Wyethia

With these I just keep them all together until I have about ten left. Those should be the strongest. It would be very time consuming to care for that many mantids if you split them all up at this stage.

 

[nebrakacinese]

I had a ooth hatch yesterday i put 5 or 6 in a 32oz. cup ,which i was up all night doing.Molting is my biggest headache ,so I take my glue gun and glue a wooden skewer thats been broken in half perpendilular with the cup for a good roost to moltSometimes they just can't seem to get the whole skin from the back legs and i'm a humidity freak with chinese.By the end of the today i'll have 100 or more in cups.One more thing start some cultures with your FFs you'll need them.Goodluck

 

[wyethia]

I had a ooth hatch yesterday i put 5 or 6 in a 32oz. cup ,which i was up all night doing.Molting is my biggest headache ,so I take my glue gun and glue a wooden skewer thats been broken in half perpendilular with the cup for a good roost to moltSometimes they just can't seem to get the whole skin from the back legs and i'm a humidity freak with chinese.By the end of the today i'll have 100 or more in cups.One more thing start some cultures with your FFs you'll need them.Goodluck

I was curious how your chinese were doing in all the separate cups? Mine molted successfully to L2--I have about 35 total. They did much better in my huge enclosure than the smaller one and the couple that I had in individual containers didn't make it. Right now, I don't see obvious signs of cannablism, but they are very well fed. They seem to like chasing each other, but don't grab each other.

They certainly start to get personalities at this stage--they are so busy!

Wyethia