Ian’s mantids

[ausar318]

Figured it’s about time to post my photos, and since I’ve got some decent WiFi,there is no better time than now!

to start off, here is my first generation Chinese, the first one I hatched from an egg (that I stole from the garden ?). This was back in 2016. Before someone gets triggered at my bad setup, I know how bad it was, and I’d yell at my younger self if it was possible. Nonetheless, I raised her from L1 to adult, and was able to breed her. This is the only picture I have of her, molting to adult



Next up is ?this ones daughter, my second generation of completely captive bred Chinese. She’s my favorite of the Chinese ?

Here she is next to her old skin (L4-L5, I think)



Jere she is eating a nice Dubia:

 

[ausar318]

Next up, is the result of my most ambitious (and foolish) decision as a lad. A few months ago, right before college started, I basically said screw it, and spent all of my savings on a couple orchid mantids. I probably shouldn’t have, since I had literally 54 cents in the bank (I’m seriously not kidding) anyway, here’s Lilly at L5, when I got her

 

[Synapze]

YOLO! ?

 

[ausar318]

This is her during her L5-L6 molt



this is is my favorite pic of her. She’s a L6, eating a moth two days before her molt. I think she blended well with the pink flower she’s on. 

 

[ausar318]

And here she is now, as a subadult. She just molted yesterday, I think



And thats all all I have on her. Now, for the male

 

[ausar318]

Here’s my little male, when I got him at L3. Poor fella, couldn’t close his arms to eat, so I had to hand feed him:



heres him eating after his molt, which fixed his arms!

 

[Prayingmantisqueen]

Maybe unwise decision but I think their worth it.. I just spent almost all my allowance too...

 

[ausar318]

And this is the male eating his food that he caught himself:

And here he is, about 15 minutes ago, when he started to molt

and here he is now, getting his wings

 

[Mantis Lady]

Nice pics. Good the male's arms got healed with his next molt.

...and gratz on the male having his wings now?

 

[bugboymark]

Nice pics.  I especially like the orchid male molting photo. Cool picture with good lighting.  Always a great experience when you walk in on them as they go through that process...especially their last molt. 

 

[River Dane]

Congratulations on the adult molt! Beautiful Chinese and orchids. 

Glad you decided to take the risk and everything worked out. The male made it to adulthood, congratulations! Are you going to breed the orchids?

 

[ausar318]

@River Dane

im hoping to, if I’m able to keep him alive for long enough. She’s a fresh subadult as of yesterday, so we’ll have to wait and see. But I’m definitely hoping to breed them

 

[Prayingmantisqueen]

Beautiful!!! 

I want some sooo bad! Slightly jealous here, ha ha! Joking!

 

[MantisGirl13]

You have like the easiest, and more experienced mantids here! That is funny. They are beautiful. Good job raising them!

- MantisGirl13

 

[Synapze]

Beautiful specimen! This makes me want an Orchid. ?

 

[Mantis Lady]

But I’m definitely hoping to breed them

I hope it will work? Good luck.