handling while young....how does it affect them?

[Zeppy44]

I must admit I do not handle my mantis very much. Check on them 5-6 times a day visually but only handle a few minutes each week for cleaning, honey/water and very close inspection.

Being a new caregiver for mantis, I have wondered if handling them more as young nymphs would make them "tamer" as adults or no? If it did make them easier to handle when adult, what is the method or process involved in their memory? Since they do not have brains just how does this work?

How do they learn? How long do they remember?

This may have started to answer some of these questions?      What do you think?

http://discovermagazine.com/2013/may/13-grandmas-experiences-leave-epigenetic-mark-on-your-genes#

Bit of a read but not loaded with terms most of us do not understand.   :clap:

 

[proserpina]

I'm also a newbie, but I'd recommend, from my experiences, to be very cautious when you handle the nymphs. Some of them can and will jump. My two ghosts have never given me trouble but I lost an Indian Flower because he basically kamikazed from my hand and the other still tries to jump from time to time. 

 

[Teamonger]

Small nymphs are the most stressful to handle cause its so easy to lose them or accidentally harm them but you can do it more safely if you prepare the area first. A large white surface of any kind (towel, table cloth, etc) can do wonders for your sanity and avoiding accidents. It gives you enough room to freeze when something unexpected happens (so as not to crush the nymph) but still have enough time to react and stop an escape once you locate the nymph which is far easier to do on the white back ground.

I also tend to always have an appropriately sized clear plastic cup/container nearby that I can cage any troublesome nymph in if I or it needs a breather. They also seem to calm down a bit more if left alone under said cup for a bit until they stop running around like nuts. Sticking a food item in the cup with them and letting them grab it will also super distract them. They normally don't care at all where you try to prod them while they are eating. They seem more annoyed that you are interrupting when you carefully prod an eating mantis onto your hand

 

[Zeppy44]

My apology. The title may have been a bit off what I was curious about. I do not plan on handling my mantis much more than I do now. That, of course, may change In the future.

Thanks, you both gave great advice any one new to mantis care can use.

At 4 am I might not have been as clear headed as I thought I was.

Still think it is a great article that may have future applications in many areas. May be part of answer of why different personalities in same species. 

 

[Jessie]

I do stuff witg mine everynight we have sing time where i sing to my mantis,i hold it quite a bit. It grooms on me and lays down in my hand.

 

[Ocelotbren]

Really interesting article, thanks for sharing.  I'm new to mantises so I don't have much to contribute to your questions, but I am interested in the topic too.

 

[Zeppy44]

I do stuff witg mine everynight we have sing time where i sing to my mantis,i hold it quite a bit. It grooms on me and lays down in my hand.

That is so cool. For some reason(s), I do not handle much. Course when I do, Sabaca gets real jealous. LOL It is funny to watch.

Really interesting article, thanks for sharing.  I'm new to mantises so I don't have much to contribute to your questions, but I am interested in the topic too.

Thanks. Kinda new to mantis myself.