Hello!

[rantology]

Hi all, figured I should make a post here! My name is Amanda and I'm from upstate New York. I do 2D art for video games and I have an unhealthy obsession with critters/nature that I only recently just relapsed on after being without critters for about 6 years  before I had to move and give them up I had 2 Leopard geckos and a Green Tree Python. I have never had invertebrates before,  and just got my first two mantids last week and I have been driving my boyfriend nuts fawning over them (A ghost and a Golden Giant Asian both ~L4). I hope to start being an active reader of this forum, which by the way is awesome! 

Anyway, I'll include some pics of my two little ones. I THINK both are female but I am not entirely sure (especially on the ghost- if anyone can confirm it would be appreciated!).

edit: I forgot to add, I named them Sunny(giant asian) and Shifty(ghost).  

 

[PrayingMantisPets]

Welcome to the forum. Beautiful mantis 

 

[Sarah K]

Welcome to the Forums! Based on what I can tell from the pictures, I actually think you might have two males. 

 

[rantology]

Welcome to the Forums! Based on what I can tell from the pictures, I actually think you might have two males. 

Hahah, for real?  Shows you much of a noob I am.  Here's another set of pictures with a different angle... the camera on my phone is not that great

 

[Sarah K]

Okay, ghost is definitely a male...But now seeing the underside of the Giant Asian, it could be a female.  

 

[Serle]

Hy/ & Welcome Amanda............. xlnt pics .............. S

 

[Ocelotbren]

Welcome!  Nice pictures, although not the easiest for sexing them unfortunately.  I agree with Sarah for the new pictures though.  The lighting washing out the abdomen sections near the end of the Giant Asian makes it hard to say for sure but seems female.

 

[Connor]

Welcome to the forum. Beautiful mantis! I agree that the ghost is a male. The giant Asian looks to be a female but it’s hatd to tell.

 

[Okoboji22]

Welcome! In that last photo the ghost almost looks golden.

 

[rantology]

Thanks everyone for the ID! 

Welcome! In that last photo the ghost almost looks golden.

Yeah he does. It's mostly just the camera though, he's more dark/ dirt-colored brown like in the first photo. I heard they can change colors and become a bit green if they are kept in high humidity, which that viv is so I am curious to see what happens in through his remaining 4 molts.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Welcome

 

[Ocelotbren]

Yeah he does. It's mostly just the camera though, he's more dark/ dirt-colored brown like in the first photo. I heard they can change colors and become a bit green if they are kept in high humidity, which that viv is so I am curious to see what happens in through his remaining 4 molts.

As far as I know, it's only the females that can turn green generally.  But there are still all kinds of shades of tan, brown and black available for the males.