Hi from Reading, UK

[TheTranquilEye]

I'm new to keeping mantids (what a surprise as I'm posting in the 'Introductions' thread... )

I currently have a male Peacock Mantis (imaginatively called Manny) and a female African Lined, name as yet decided.

Fascinating creatures, it has to be said.

Manny's in a 30 X 30 X 30 terranium (he's L3) and the African Lined is in a clear plastic pot. Neither has any trouble in hunting down the flies I put in and are healthy.

Looking forward to being an active and hopefully useful forumer.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Welcome! the peacock is my favorite, and cant find any so u are blessed!

 

[TheTranquilEye]

Welcome! the peacock is my favorite, and cant find any so u are blessed!

I was lucky that our local reptile shop had him in stock. I'm looking forward to his final molt and see if he'll display for me.

 

[Sarah K]

Welcome! We don't see too many of them on the forum! Please post pictures!

 

[TheTranquilEye]

Welcome! We don't see too many of them on the forum! Please post pictures!

His enclosure's due for a deep clean tomorrow, so I'll get some macro shots while he's out.

 

[JoeWilliamson]

great to see another brit on the forum! welcome!

 

[spider_creations]

Welcome to the fourm mantids are great pets and such interesting critters 

 

[TheTranquilEye]

As promised.

Heeeerrrreeee's Manny!

 

[Mantidaddicted]

He looks great!! Hi manny!!

 

[Kara S]

Manny is lovely!

 

[TheTranquilEye]

Manny's in a 30 X 30 X 30 terranium (he's L3)

Well, first off it's a 20 x 20 x 30 Exo-Terra Nano.

Secondly, Manny was not an L3 but a sub-adult (every day's a schoolday). He molted on Monday night and now has a beautiful set of wings. He's already had a bit of a display and I hope (without stressing him too much) to get some photos.

Strangely, Maude the African Lined was ravenous after molting but even 24hrs after his molt, Manny won't touch a thing. I'm sure I read somewhere that some species don't eat when adult? Can anyone advise please?

 

[Sarah K]

Well, first off it's a 20 x 20 x 30 Exo-Terra Nano.

Secondly, Manny was not an L3 but a sub-adult (every day's a schoolday). He molted on Monday night and now has a beautiful set of wings. He's already had a bit of a display and I hope (without stressing him too much) to get some photos.

Strangely, Maude the African Lined was ravenous after molting but even 24hrs after his molt, Manny won't touch a thing. I'm sure I read somewhere that some species don't eat when adult? Can anyone advise please?

Awesome! Hopefully you can get us a picture of his beautiful wings! I wouldn't worry too much yet about his refusal to eat. I have definitely had a few mantids wait longer than 24 hours after thier molt to finally eat. 

 

[TheTranquilEye]

Awesome! Hopefully you can get us a picture of his beautiful wings! I wouldn't worry too much yet about his refusal to eat. I have definitely had a few mantids wait longer than 24 hours after thier molt to finally eat. 

Well, he finally had a fly yesterday. He was very reluctant when it was buzzing about. He was hanging down almost touching the substrate so the fly was rarely coming near him. I disabled the fly so it could only crawl and he caught it within a couple of minutes.

He displayed to me shortly after he'd eaten but wouldn't do it again for the camera. I'm guessing they think if it didn't scare off the predator first time, best to make like a twig!

I'll see if I can get him to dispaly again later and have the camera ready.