Ghosts: Colouring & communal ???

[5eyesUK]

Hello my dear crew of experts ☺

Id like to ask your advice and experience..

After my small handful of mantises I finally got to the stage where Id like to get some ghosts ❤

Yes I have read up on them here and there and there are 2 areas on which id love to get more specific info:

1) What's with the colours, how do I get more unusual ones - reds, greens, black etc? Is it genetic or is it conditions and if the latter, what's needed?

2) I do have my ❤ set on keeping a little community, I do understand that yes there is a risk but Id be willing to embrace that. Anyone willing to share their tips on communal enclosures?

Many thanks

 

[MantisGirl13]

There is no way to ensure that you get colors. It is a genetics thing. In my experience though, males are usually Brown and black and female a are good and green. 

For a communal enclosure, use a large tank and supply food every day, making sure that every ghost is full every day. There is still a risk of cannibalism, but that is the best way. The more space the better for a communal enclosure. A smaller feeding enclosure night be needed to ensure that every mantis gets fed.

Hope that helps!

- MantisGirl13

 

[5eyesUK]

Thank you @MantisGirl13  one reason why I want to try communal is because I already have a large viv id like to use.

What size enclosure would you say per how many ghosts?

 

[MantisGirl13]

Thank you @MantisGirl13  one reason why I want to try communal is because I already have a large viv id like to use.

What size enclosure would you say per how many ghosts?

What size is your viv?

- MantisGirl13

 

[5eyesUK]

Its actually not a viv as such, its a "mini green house" which im going to customise with some mesh on top and a bioactive substrate and plants....


Width:
45 cm



Depth:
22 cm



Height:
35 cm
I am soon buying some L2 nymphs, thought id raise them in deli cups untill theyr big enough not to get too lost in this viv? 

 

[hysteresis]

@5eyesUK Thats a nice enclosure, if it provides ventilation. If not, older humid species may struggle with respiration. The mesh will be extremely important.

Are the panels glass or lexan/polycarbonate? 

 

[5eyesUK]

@hysteresis thanks! Yes i thought ill keep the top open as needed (partly, fully etc depending on conditions) as i will make a mesh lid/ top anyway. 

The sides are acrylic so I could burn a few holes in aswell for a better ventilation. What location would be best for the holes? Along the bottom line? Vertically? Etc.

 

[hysteresis]

I see people drilling holes in different orientations. Were it me, id use the smallest drill size I could find to prevent escapees and drill vertically. Having said that, if you have enough ventilation on the top, you may not need to cross drill at all.

Acrylic is cool. Easy to work with. Drilling would look better. If you mesh the entire upper panels, you could drill nice 3/8" diameter holes for ventilation.

If you plan on keeping thistles or other ephusids, youll want traction surfaces like mesh on the sides and drill those panels out substantially.

 

[hysteresis]

Okay wait, you said communal so youd be thinking ghosts in an enclosure like that.

 

[5eyesUK]

Okay wait, you said communal so youd be thinking ghosts in an enclosure like that.

Yep my lovely, as said in the title of this thread ☺

 

[hysteresis]

Im sketchy on weekend mornings, sorry, LOL!  Slept in until 1030am and still having coffee in pjs.

 

[Mantis Lady]

I have no experience with ghosts keeping together but this can be turned into a nice mantis home with enough ventilation.

 

[hysteresis]

I had such aspirations early on, but where to put so many enclosures!

 

[5eyesUK]

Im sketchy on weekend mornings, sorry, LOL!  Slept in until 1030am and still having coffee in pjs.

Enjoy

 

[Ben10101]

View attachment 12168

I have one of these, the top panels are very easy to slide off! If you wanna try to get more ventilation just take one panel out and replace it with a net mesh and you should good~ I've yet to use mine, cause it needs quite a bit of modification (and I'm lazy )

 

[5eyesUK]

@Ben10101 ah what a brill simple idea, never thought of that! what do you have in yours?

 

[MantisGirl13]

@5eyesUK you could probably keep a group of 3-5 ghosts in there, but I'd separate at adulthood.

- MantisGirl13

 

[Ben10101]

@Ben10101 ah what a brill simple idea, never thought of that! what do you have in yours?

Dead plant right now Gonna use it maybe for mantises in the future.

 

[5eyesUK]

Dead plant right now