Hello from NYC

[JonRich]

Hello All,

My name is Jon . I live in Manhattan NYC and I work for a major search engine company. I keep a few exotic pets (mostly reptiles and amphibians). I added mantids to my collection a few months ago after a recent trip to a Reptile Expo.

I picked up 1.1 pair of Ghost Mantis ( Phyllocrania paradoxa). Currently both have molted to adults. The male was first and the female followed about 2 weeks after . I kept them separate for 2 weeks then moved them to a 10g vert set up as a breeding tank . 2 days later the pair were coupled for about 24 hours. The male them made a b-line to the back of the tank . He was then moved . I'm awaiting ooths. Female is eating everything in sight . Mostly dubias and blue bottle flies.

I also picked up 0.0.2 Orchid Mantis ( Hymenopus coronatus) I believe . They are kept speratly in 32oz deli cups . Not much action out these guys . I believe they have molted 2 times in my care . They were pretty small when I got them .

I'm trying to figure out how to post pix here . I can't find the forum on tapatalk .

 

[JonRich]

Full tank shot of the Ghost Mantis breeding/rearing tank .

Oh and Merry Christmas .. ?

 

[LAME]

welcome to the community!

 

[CosbyArt]

Hello Jon and welcome to the forum

Ghost mantises are great, but the beautiful ones I believe would be your Orchids. Nice selection to get started in the hobby.

Looking at your breeding tank it's obvious you have been in the reptile and amphibian hobby for a long while. Let me guess you have/had Dart frogs? They seem to be some of the most elaborate setups and would build some skills.

 

[JonRich]

welcome to the community!

Hello Jon and welcome to the forum

Thanks Ghost mantises are great, but the beautiful ones I believe would be your Orchids. Nice selection to get started in the hobby. Looking at your breeding tank it's obvious you have been in the reptile and amphibian hobby for a long while. Let me guess you have/had Dart frogs? They seem to be some of the most elaborate setups and would build some skills.

Lol, yes I keep about 7 different species of dartfrogs. I also keep Uroplatus sikorae, Panther Chameleons , 2 species or Bradypodion (dwarf chameleons), Lygodactalus williamsi and Chinchillas . LolI build/have built quite a few tanks (species specific ). Considering putting my orchid mantis in this .

 

[mantiseater]

welcome im from NY as well

 

[LAME]

That enclosure is wicked! !!!

 

[JonRich]

welcome im from NY as well

Nice . Where in NY?

 

[CosbyArt]

Lol, yes I keep about 7 different species of dartfrogs. I also keep Uroplatus sikorae, Panther Chameleons , 2 species or Bradypodion (dwarf chameleons), Lygodactalus williamsi and Chinchillas . LolI build/have built quite a few tanks (species specific ). Considering putting my orchid mantis in this .

Lucky guess on the Darts :shifty: Quite the selection of exotics, the Uroplatus sikorae looks like a really amazing species. With pets like that I bet you have a awesome pet room too. Your fit right in here, seems many really branch out in pets (several chams and other owners here too), and most like to keep little exotic zoos.

Ah Chinchillas, I imagine this is your hands on pet and takes the place of a cat/dog. My local pet store got in a few this past week (standard grays) - what color(s) do you have?

That is a awesome tank! It would be wonderful as a self-sustaining terrarium (or it's own ecosystem) even - You are a artist using plants.

 

[JonRich]

That enclosure is wicked! !!!

Thanks . I have a build thread for it somewhere . It's a 18x18x24 ExoTerra . I also have a few other builds on Instagram (user name JonRich1320). If you are you on Instagram, have a look.

I usually try to get a feel for the bio-type of whatever animal I keep and try to replicate it as best I can .

 

[JonRich]

Lucky guess on the Darts :shifty: Quite the selection of exotics, the Uroplatus sikorae looks like a really amazing species. With pets like that I bet you have a awesome pet room too. Your fit right in here, seems many really branch out in pets (several chams and other owners here too), and most like to keep little exotic zoos.

Ah Chinchillas, I imagine this is your hands on pet and takes the place of a cat/dog. My local pet store got in a few this past week (standard grays) - what color(s) do you have?

That is a awesome tank! It would be wonderful as a self-sustaining terrarium (or it's own ecosystem) even - You are a artist using plants.

I like to keep things that interest me. I had some interesting sruff when I was younger. Haha. I have a decent herp-room. And the chinchilla was an impulse buy on my wife's part. We have 4 (2 mosaic and 2 standards). They are pretty hands on and get about an hour free-range time at night. All my animals are pretty hands on . Lol (see attached photos, haha). I messed up by adding the creeping ficus (the lush green plants on the left wall). It's a weed and will overwelmed the tank of not trimmed. I lost a few miniature orchids under it . Had to move the rest. Aside for that plant the tank is pretty self sustaining .

 

[sally]

Welcome

 

[CosbyArt]

I like to keep things that interest me. I had some interesting sruff when I was younger. Haha. I have a decent herp-room. And the chinchilla was an impulse buy on my wife's part. We have 4 (2 mosaic and 2 standards). They are pretty hands on and get about an hour free-range time at night. All my animals are pretty hands on . Lol (see attached photos, haha).

I messed up by adding the creeping ficus (the lush green plants on the left wall). It's a weed and will overwelmed the tank of not trimmed. I lost a few miniature orchids under it . Had to move the rest. Aside for that plant the tank is pretty self sustaining .

I imagine so, nothing wrong with that. Wow, blaming your wife on the forum already? I think it took me a week to get there with mine

Very nice, 2 sets of Chinchilla's - and it seems your daughter(?) loves them. I must admit I was curious why the Chinchilla's as they seemed so out of place with the rest of your pets.

It's great to be able to interact with pets, allows a much more fulfilling relationship. Heck even most mantises are that way; however, mine would rather head butt my hands and run away. Lots of nice photos thanks for sharing them.

I had my wife look at the photos and she asked, "Why are we looking at just a stick?". A few seconds later she discovered the possible outline of your Uroplatus sikorae in photo three. It really does have amazing camouflage.

Easy mistake on the weed, but sounds like a good choice for a fast growing plant. I've used various weeds before in my freshwater ADF (African Dwarf Frog) tanks - it was a great source of food (the roots), and one of the few plants to survive their thrashing. It also allowed their tadpoles a place to hide when we bred them - great experience.

 

[LAME]

I would love to see that build thread

Though I'm not on facebook,twitter,instagram,ect.. Just here...

 

[Rick]

Welcome

 

[mantiseater]

Nice . Where in NY?

Westchester

 

[Jay]

Welcome to the community!

 

[JonRich]

Welcome

Thank you

Welcome

Thanks for the welcome

Westchester

Cool. Are you familiar with the mantis vendors at the WhitePlains show?

Welcome to the community!

Thanks

 

[JonRich]

I would love to see that build thread

Though I'm not on facebook,twitter,instagram,ect.. Just here...

I'll be building a few extra 10g verts for mantis and I'll post in the enclosure section here .