First homemade

[sueb4653]

My first homemade enclosure

 

[happy1892]

Looks good.

 

[patrickfraser]

lol, cheese balls or pretzels? I have quite a few of those. It is easier to cut out the label and screen it than try to remove all that sticky, right? Also better for ventilation.

 

[sueb4653]

lol cheese balls and yes I cut out the label for ventilation and also did some ventilation in the lid

 

[patrickfraser]

Good job! :clap: You'll be a pro in no time. No better teacher than practical experience.

 

[sueb4653]

Now if I can just keep the darn flies in container so hubby dont get mad

 

[Sneaky123]

If you use the kind of mesh I use u might want to double layer. Melanogasters can get out >

 

[hibiscusmile]

I cant se the pic

 

[Mvalenz]

I cant se the pic

Me either.

 

[sueb4653]

there you go

 

[Mvalenz]

Now I see. Very nice.

 

[sueb4653]

Thanks

 

[MandellaMandy123]

Wow, not bad! I'll have to try that right away!

 

[SilentDeviL]

Nice where you get the container ?

 

[sueb4653]

Its a cheese ball barrel some walmarts carry it or sams club does can also buy online

Utz cheese balls

 

[Crazy4mantis]

Cheese balls have endless uses.

 

[eyes]

That's the same containers I used. I took the label off without leaving any residue. You just have to go slow and steady with even pressure and it pulls right off cleanly. I also made a large cut-out on the side like that except mine is a door that I can open and close. I find the side access door is much more convenient for putting active prey in because they tend to go up. Plus I can get in there for cleanup, misting, and whatnot without disturbing the mantis (unless the mantis is on the door of course but then I can open the top) or letting the prey out.

I used air conditioning filter material instead of normal screen because it provides good air flow but fruit flies can't easily get out of it (crickets sometimes eat the material though).

I made a little latch out of the extra plastic, bent it into shape and hot glued to the side. The door is just the filter foam tied to a coat hanger which is bent to the shape of the container. All my foam pieces are just held on by wire which makes it easy to replace if needed.

Edit:

I also lightly sand the top clear part of the container (hard to see in picture) just to rough it up a bit so the smaller mantises can grip better on that top corner where it curves over since prey tends to hang out there.

 

[sueb4653]

OH very good

I'm having a hard time finding more containers right now Walmart ran out

 

[patrickfraser]

OH NO! NOT A CHEESE BALL SHORTAGE! :lol: