Communal and mixed instars

[vyadha]

I have 3 subadult ghosts and one adult, all brown. I have 5 l5/l6 ghosts on the way in various colors. Can I keep the males together regardless of instar? What about the females?

My students are sooooo into all the bugs, having an closure with a few different colors of the same species would be quite the treat for them.

 

[Jaywo]

I have had them in a cage if they are close together in instars but I have experienced cannibalism as well. It's a risk. The subadults and adult males I've had in a cage together and they were fine. 

 

[hysteresis]

It would seem communal species like gongys should be easy to breed?

 

[vyadha]

I have had them in a cage if they are close together in instars but I have experienced cannibalism as well. It's a risk. The subadults and adult males I've had in a cage together and they were fine. 

I’ll put two or three males together and keep them well fed. Thank you!

 

[Graceface]

They should be okay, provided they have enough food and communal space (ie perches and room in the enclosure to escape their roommates). 

I've always separated mine at L4/5, due to my own fear of cannibalism and inability to track each specific mantis's progress. It is fun to see them all together, though