Mantid sitter
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patrickfraser
Well-known member
Depends on where I'm vacationing. :lol: JK, No vacations for me. 
MandellaMandy123
Well-known member
Depends on instar and species. Some could handle being left for a week if you feed them a lot the day you leave. You don't want to leave in any feeders like crickets though if they are nymphs, since crickets will attack while a mantis is molting.
mantiseater
Well-known member
I leave a lot of fly pupae in there enclosures.
TheBeesKnees
Well-known member
Man, I am grappling with this, myself! Except instead of 7 days, I'm going back to Canada for up to two months to deal with getting married and stuff :T And due to canada's strict laws, bringing them with me is not an option haha (otherwise I would in a heartbeat!)
And so I was also wondering what people did to ensure the well being of their mantids while away. Living in thailand, I always have the option of releasing them since it's their natural habitat--but I get so attached! I was wondering if anyone had an easy DIY feeding system installed or something so that a less savvy babysitter can easily feed the mantids. I'm pretty sure my housekeeper wouldn't mind being saddled with the task (especially if I give her additional pay), but I have no idea how to make it an easy touch and go process for her, haha. The dilemma is doubled by the fact that there's no place around here that just sells feeders (and I don't know if buying them from the UK, having them shipped through customs, and arrive alive is realistic), so all food is wild caught, augh.
If I can get the last one to adulthood before leaving, it'll be easier--but even then, mmmh... It'd be great if we could just find another savvy insect enthusiast in the area to babysit or something lmao.
Life is hard.
And so I was also wondering what people did to ensure the well being of their mantids while away. Living in thailand, I always have the option of releasing them since it's their natural habitat--but I get so attached! I was wondering if anyone had an easy DIY feeding system installed or something so that a less savvy babysitter can easily feed the mantids. I'm pretty sure my housekeeper wouldn't mind being saddled with the task (especially if I give her additional pay), but I have no idea how to make it an easy touch and go process for her, haha. The dilemma is doubled by the fact that there's no place around here that just sells feeders (and I don't know if buying them from the UK, having them shipped through customs, and arrive alive is realistic), so all food is wild caught, augh.
If I can get the last one to adulthood before leaving, it'll be easier--but even then, mmmh... It'd be great if we could just find another savvy insect enthusiast in the area to babysit or something lmao.
Life is hard.
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i dont blame you for not wanting to release them because of becoming attached. i would never be able to do it lol. mantids can go longer than youd think without food especially if they have been fed really well before you left. the main concern would be if they became dehydrated, or if they mismolted due to a lack of humidity. know what you could do actually to ensure neither of those things happened, you could put a small bowl at the bottom of their containers. they can smell water so there is a chance they will drink from it. that would help with keeping some humidity as well. just some ideas cause i feel your pain about this lol i was hesitant to go to florida because of this
they could drown in the bowl if the fall while climbing on the side. I have 4 months to make a plan. I want a cruise lol
i dont mean a big bowl like for humans lol yeah theyd most likely drown if you were to do that, i mean like a shallow lizard dish or maybe even a bottle cap
too bad you cant take them with you, i wanted to take them with me last time but we stayed in a motel and i was iffy about that, what with the cleaning ladies cleaning spray, toxic
