Hello and good evening (or morning, afternoon or night, depending on where in the world you are) to you all! 
My name is Rainbow, I’m somewhere in my mid-30s, and I’m from Wales in the U.K. and very new to the hobby, I just got my two little male ghost mantis less than a month ago. I’d been saying for years how cool I thought mantis were, and I was always harking on about how I was going to get one, and frankly even I was getting a little bored of hearing myself talk about it and not do it, so I finally bit the bullet! I really like some of the larger species, but I was just captivated by how utterly alien the ghost mantis looks; it really struck me that if someone showed me a photo and told me it was a design for a new alien invader from an upcoming sci-fi film, I’d have totally believed them. That they’re so adorably small also helps - it’s like when you see a travel version of a product and it’s packaging is just exactly like the packaging of the full-size version, only tiny. It’s completely adorable
Their care and housing also seemed well-suited to a beginner, although I’ve had some confusion over humidity levels (the first guide I read said 85%+, which even in damp and humid Britain I was really struggling to maintain; later guides I’ve read have all said 60-75% which is very easy and not that much above what it is here anyway).
Anyway, thus far we seem to be doing okay. One moulted fairly soon after arriving which was rather disconcerting, because for the first week or so after his arrival I couldn’t get him to eat, which was very scary as a new owner. But now he’s a very good eater, and I’m a very proud owner
I also bought my first jumping spider at the same time, in a bid to help my arachnaphobia, and also as another critter I’d be jabbering on about wanting to get for altogether too long! I also have stick insects and cats, but none of these things are the subject of this forum, so I’ll leave that at that.
I look forward to reading more and participating in your community. I’m sure I won’t have much helpful to add at this point as I don’t really know very much, I’m more or less a baby in the world of keepers, but I’m sure I’ll be able to learn loads from reading what more experienced and knowledgeable folk have to say.
Hope you’re all having a cracking week!
My name is Rainbow, I’m somewhere in my mid-30s, and I’m from Wales in the U.K. and very new to the hobby, I just got my two little male ghost mantis less than a month ago. I’d been saying for years how cool I thought mantis were, and I was always harking on about how I was going to get one, and frankly even I was getting a little bored of hearing myself talk about it and not do it, so I finally bit the bullet! I really like some of the larger species, but I was just captivated by how utterly alien the ghost mantis looks; it really struck me that if someone showed me a photo and told me it was a design for a new alien invader from an upcoming sci-fi film, I’d have totally believed them. That they’re so adorably small also helps - it’s like when you see a travel version of a product and it’s packaging is just exactly like the packaging of the full-size version, only tiny. It’s completely adorable
Their care and housing also seemed well-suited to a beginner, although I’ve had some confusion over humidity levels (the first guide I read said 85%+, which even in damp and humid Britain I was really struggling to maintain; later guides I’ve read have all said 60-75% which is very easy and not that much above what it is here anyway). Anyway, thus far we seem to be doing okay. One moulted fairly soon after arriving which was rather disconcerting, because for the first week or so after his arrival I couldn’t get him to eat, which was very scary as a new owner. But now he’s a very good eater, and I’m a very proud owner
I also bought my first jumping spider at the same time, in a bid to help my arachnaphobia, and also as another critter I’d be jabbering on about wanting to get for altogether too long! I also have stick insects and cats, but none of these things are the subject of this forum, so I’ll leave that at that. I look forward to reading more and participating in your community. I’m sure I won’t have much helpful to add at this point as I don’t really know very much, I’m more or less a baby in the world of keepers, but I’m sure I’ll be able to learn loads from reading what more experienced and knowledgeable folk have to say.
Hope you’re all having a cracking week!
