Okay so I found a really easy way to free range your mantis if for some reason you don't want them on your plants (fake or live) plus it is a bit more sturdy so here goes! If you have this stuff lying around try it!
The Free Range Tower
Materials
Now that you have all your supplies together take your zip ties and Storage Cubes and start tying them together. The shape you make it doesn't matter too much, but you want it to be stable, and putting more stabilizing pieces gives your mantis more places to climb. Once you have it put together how you want it, you can either leave it or continue on by wrapping string around some of the bars for extra grip. I have only tried it with my Adult Female Chinese Mantis and she is loving standing on top of it. Her claws fit around the bars well so that she can grab them to pull herself forward. The string would probably help for molting/old mantises. Also, I have the storage cubes with 9 holes, which are the smallest holes they sell, and my adult female Chinese mantis can get through them with no issues.
The Free Range Tower
Materials
- C&C cubes/ Wire storage cubes
- Zip ties
- String or yarn (optional, but it should work better for older mantids and mantids that don't have good grip)
- a Mantis!
Now that you have all your supplies together take your zip ties and Storage Cubes and start tying them together. The shape you make it doesn't matter too much, but you want it to be stable, and putting more stabilizing pieces gives your mantis more places to climb. Once you have it put together how you want it, you can either leave it or continue on by wrapping string around some of the bars for extra grip. I have only tried it with my Adult Female Chinese Mantis and she is loving standing on top of it. Her claws fit around the bars well so that she can grab them to pull herself forward. The string would probably help for molting/old mantises. Also, I have the storage cubes with 9 holes, which are the smallest holes they sell, and my adult female Chinese mantis can get through them with no issues.