Mantid Bug Brooder

[animalexplorer]

Sometimes the bigger aquariums seem to be a challenge for the smaller nymphs in small groups come feeding time, so I have been keeping nymphs in 5 qt containers(makeshift bug brooders) that I picked up from IKEA for around $6 ea. I find them versatile, meaning that I can orientate them either length or height. I also removed one of the plastic doors and replaced it with a plastic mesh that I glued in place for adequate ventilation. Larry(more_rayne) sent me some D.dessicata's in a container that had some really nice silk fern leafs glued to the side fo the 32oz container that yooung nymphs seem to cling to with little effort, so that gave me the idea to load these bug brooders with silk plant, flower parts. Since they come in many varieties the skies the limits. I purchased an assortment from Michaels craft store. I would mix and match and glue them to the inside of the containers creating walk ways like step ladders all the way to the top. I also added a gripable surface to the tops so they could hang from the top, if you don't, I find the mantid will continually claw at the top trying to figure a way to cling and hang upside down. I also like the idea of Mark's(Sporeworld) where he drilled a hole and glued a rubber grommet so that you can put a plug for easy access to add feeders. I will add that feature soon.

You can keep D.hydie FF's without them escaping, just make sure you get the righ gauge mesh.

In this picture the top surface is not present due to it being removed while cleaning. Also you can always remove the configuration of flowers and add different ones as long as you use the glue for glue guns. Clean the flowers and re-use them in a different set-up.

Housing 10 nymphs at L1-2

Housing 5 nymphs at L3

If I am low on food for a day or two, I now make it a practice to separate each individual in single small 32 oz containers until they are well fed.

I.diabolica nympths appear in the images below(in case anyone was wondering.)

 

[Rick]

Obviously it will work. Another good choice is the live monarch net cages. They're cheap and work great. Also with those you can open it just enough to insert a funnel for fruit flies without any mantids escaping.

 

[sporeworld]

Very nice. Combination of a lot of ideas. Looks easy to clean, too. Old Idolos won't be able to climb on the plastic, but they probably won't be in there anyway.

And I put those washer/plug/holes on all my cages now. Even the monarch net cages. The last few I made bigger out of sheets of foam rubber (also from Micheals).

Kudos.

 

[animalexplorer]

Obviously it will work. Another good choice is the live monarch net cages. They're cheap and work great. Also with those you can open it just enough to insert a funnel for fruit flies without any mantids escaping.

I agree Rick, I have several of the 12x12 net cubes from Live Monarch. They are not the most aesthetically pleasing but they are very effective and are a very good thing to have around as glass terrariums are not cost effective for most hobbyists.

Very nice. Combination of a lot of ideas. Looks easy to clean, too. Old Idolos won't be able to climb on the plastic, but they probably won't be in there anyway.

And I put those washer/plug/holes on all my cages now. Even the monarch net cages. The last few I made bigger out of sheets of foam rubber (also from Micheals).

Kudos.

Yes, it is very easy to clean, just pop the lid off and hose it down with a pump pressure sprayer and drain it. The washer/plug/holes is a great idea. Definitely less feeder escapees. Micheals has a lot of resourses when it comes to accomodating mantid condos.