Mantid-Tim
Well-known member
Hey all. I'm Tim; new to the forum.
I wanted to share my enclosures, for the beginner doing research as well as ideas for experienced mantid keepers.... I use exo-terras or similar (8x8x12 and 12x12x18) with fabric tulle (thanks MantisGirl13 !) hot glued to the top hanging slightly, but secure. (The mantis' tarsus grabs the nylon, not the metal, is the point of that; no injured tarsus'!!!)
So I basically just use popsicle-stick bridges put together out of wood glue (non-toxic), which is a very strong structure if done right. Also you can buy different sized popsicle-sticks and make them the exact size and angles you want. Dowels are good to throw in too. Very customizable, in other words, and all this can be obtained in say a Walmart or similar store with a crafts section. This stuff is cheaper than pet supplies and seems to work better.
The rest of the enclosre is some aspen wood wool (the stuff in fruit fly cultures) at the bottom of the enclosure. Lastly, coco-fiber for the substrate. (I use about half the water the package says to saturate it; It says 2.25 cups for the 110 gram bar, but I use 1 cup to 1-1/2 cups water at most.)
Anyway, the pictures: (I hope this helps some people with ideas!)
For my lineola: (L5/L6 female)
![20200629_173747.jpg 20200629_173747.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9596-c98d84776fb3d9d57761493562333517.jpg)
Commune of ghosts:
![20200629_173812.jpg 20200629_173812.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9597-63518a6a8f30687567d4b44512316df6.jpg)
![20200629_173837.jpg 20200629_173837.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9598-2ad4481a54e5256a269a339fcc429bdf.jpg)
Plastic 1 gal enclosure for single ghost:
![20200629_173950.jpg 20200629_173950.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9599-00f5a2a0b42d7859da121b7011c64b87.jpg)
![20200629_174011.jpg 20200629_174011.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9600-ae971d13b646c0dbf02f6be121437a82.jpg)
Currently housing a Chinese Mantis nymph I found in the wild. (Used to house a Heterochaeta which died due to mismolt caused by falling):
![20200629_174103.jpg 20200629_174103.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9601-581659ee1f3eafd83589659255d3be12.jpg)
![20200629_174118.jpg 20200629_174118.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9602-6748679ee6d092f8a5bc4fe047dbbfab.jpg)
I wanted to share my enclosures, for the beginner doing research as well as ideas for experienced mantid keepers.... I use exo-terras or similar (8x8x12 and 12x12x18) with fabric tulle (thanks MantisGirl13 !) hot glued to the top hanging slightly, but secure. (The mantis' tarsus grabs the nylon, not the metal, is the point of that; no injured tarsus'!!!)
So I basically just use popsicle-stick bridges put together out of wood glue (non-toxic), which is a very strong structure if done right. Also you can buy different sized popsicle-sticks and make them the exact size and angles you want. Dowels are good to throw in too. Very customizable, in other words, and all this can be obtained in say a Walmart or similar store with a crafts section. This stuff is cheaper than pet supplies and seems to work better.
The rest of the enclosre is some aspen wood wool (the stuff in fruit fly cultures) at the bottom of the enclosure. Lastly, coco-fiber for the substrate. (I use about half the water the package says to saturate it; It says 2.25 cups for the 110 gram bar, but I use 1 cup to 1-1/2 cups water at most.)
Anyway, the pictures: (I hope this helps some people with ideas!)
For my lineola: (L5/L6 female)
![20200629_173747.jpg 20200629_173747.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9596-c98d84776fb3d9d57761493562333517.jpg)
Commune of ghosts:
![20200629_173812.jpg 20200629_173812.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9597-63518a6a8f30687567d4b44512316df6.jpg)
![20200629_173837.jpg 20200629_173837.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9598-2ad4481a54e5256a269a339fcc429bdf.jpg)
Plastic 1 gal enclosure for single ghost:
![20200629_173950.jpg 20200629_173950.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9599-00f5a2a0b42d7859da121b7011c64b87.jpg)
![20200629_174011.jpg 20200629_174011.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9600-ae971d13b646c0dbf02f6be121437a82.jpg)
Currently housing a Chinese Mantis nymph I found in the wild. (Used to house a Heterochaeta which died due to mismolt caused by falling):
![20200629_174103.jpg 20200629_174103.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9601-581659ee1f3eafd83589659255d3be12.jpg)
![20200629_174118.jpg 20200629_174118.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/9/9602-6748679ee6d092f8a5bc4fe047dbbfab.jpg)