Keeping them CLEAN

[Colorcham427]

How often do you guys clean your mantises' enclosures?

I recently began keeping a little cup lid in each net cage, just so when I toss in some flies that are dusted with bee pollen powder, none of the powder gets all over on the floor of the cage, instead it all remains on the lid. The flies that wake up simply walk off the lid and are going to be killed sooner or later anyways! LOL

Now, as far as keeping things clean... Do you guys do a thorough wash in the washing machine? Or just spot clean the bottom?

I only use livemonarch.com's net cages, so I am sure you guys are aware of the plastic floor.

Do you guys use a solution?

Would a 10% bleach solution be too dangerous for the mantis?

I am planning on spot cleaning their cage floors every other day, just to keep things from getting too comfortable for bacteria.

I don't want bacteria to be partyin' hard on the dance floor lol... And I don't want the 10% bleach solution to harm the mantise or the flies in anyway.

And as for aspen fiber aka excelsior, how often should I change that up? This is a question regarding very small nymphs or small sp.

Aspen fiber seems to pick things up easily, and I can't seem to tell when the wood shavings are ready to be thrown out...

 

[MantidLord]

I just use warm water and paper towels to wipe it clean. No bleach.

 

[hibiscusmile]

I vacume mine every thur, then prob once a month or when needed they get washed out with antibacterial dish soap and when a species has outgrown its housing, even the large caves they get a good soak in soap and bleach, I never measure bleach either, also they are scrubbed with soap and sponge before the soaking, and I never have a problem with the bleach, it makes the flowers nice and clean. I throw excelsior out when dirty or they are moving on to new home and are to big for it.

 

[Rick]

For my net cages I just clean with soap and water. For cups I just replace the paper towel on the bottom. When the mantis in the cup dies or is moved I stick it in the dishwasher. I clean things when they get nasty. I generally don't use excelsior. That stuff is overrated.

 

[JoeCapricorn]

Same as rick, I just change paper towels on bottom of container. Good idea on dishwasher for unused containers though, I should really consider that... especially since so many of the old containers are now quite, uhh... brown?

 

[PhilinYuma]

I vacume mine every thur, then prob once a month or when needed they get washed out with antibacterial dish soap and when a species has outgrown its housing, even the large caves they get a good soak in soap and bleach, I never measure bleach either, also they are scrubbed with soap and sponge before the soaking, and I never have a problem with the bleach, it makes the flowers nice and clean. I throw excelsior out when dirty or they are moving on to new home and are to big for it.

This is pretty much what I do, though in a much less organized way. OSHA and I both love 10% bleach, but it seems that you are considering using this "for spot cleaning their cage floors". The smell of bleach is the smell of chlorine gas, so no, don't use that for spot cleaning! Generally, a clean looking, odor free environment is all that they require.

 

[Rick]

Same as rick, I just change paper towels on bottom of container. Good idea on dishwasher for unused containers though, I should really consider that... especially since so many of the old containers are now quite, uhh... brown?

Be sure to put them on the top rack or they might melt! I wait until I have a nice batch and run an entire load of just my 32 oz cups.

 

[sk8erkho]

When the floor of the enclosure is just about covered with droppings sometimes sooner. I just can't bear the thought of letting them just hang there with droppings building up to the point of a smelly enclosure!!!

 

[ismart]

I clean all my mantids enclosures once a week. I use a sponge with warm water to clean everyone.

When you have a few hundred mantids this turns into an all day affair!

 

[hibiscusmile]

Yes, without good husbandry no animal, human or insect will do it's best. Remember cleaniness is next to Godliness!

and this requires a lot of time!