Mantis

[Bah]

I was starting to worry about their molt but they finally did!

I gave them all numbers so I can keep track of feeding and molt 

I have #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #7

(number 6 sadly passed away)

only 1 and 4 haven't shed

This morning I caught a Bold Jumping spider in my bathroom  I figured I can house it to keep the fruit fly population under control (they mate like no tomorrow).

Ill post pics of them, although they all look similar  

 #1

#2

 #3

#4

 #5

 #7

 Names Benny (Jenny if a she)

 

[GingerC]

Looks like a Jenny to me, unless it's a juvenile.

And congratulations! My own mantis is starting to age, and so I've been reminiscing about how fun mantis nymphs are. :') I used to make a game out of trying to guess when the next molt would be... good times. I've considered getting another one or two, but now that you mention it, six times more mantids makes six times more fun! I'm sure my parents would love buying that many fruit flies.

 

[River Dane]

Aww! Jenny/Benny is so cute! I want to keep a jumping spider, but I fear their venom.

Anyway, I hope your mantises molt soon, have fun raising them!

 

[Bah]

@GingerC Nooooo clue xD only thing I know is, its eating a lot  :clap:

Im thinking of adding more myself, im enjoying the hobby quite a lot, I just wish their were more connections where I am  

Fruit flies are amazing and terrifying  :wacko:  one day there were 10 the next 100's 

 

[Bah]

@FluffyMantid Cute little things<3 and honestly I never got bitten, up till now I just learned that they could bite but its rare :0 I used to collect these as a child, guess i was either super gentle or dumb lucky :'D

Thank you! #4 already caught up now its 1's turn x3

 

[River Dane]

@Bah Hmm, interesting. I've seen a few around my garden, and they are cute. Although, Benny/Jenny is a lot larger (or she/he looks like it from the picture). The ones I see are about the same size as D. Hydei, and they shine different colors in the light. One was yellow, and another was turquoise! They're beautiful AND cute, AND intelligent. Seems like they'd be the best pet, huh? I'll think about it.

Congratulations on #4, hope #1 molts, soon!

 

[Bah]

@FluffyMantid B/Jenny is like the size of my fingernail ^^ 

and really?? That's so tiny<3 I'm sure the one I have is close to adult

Those colours sound amazing, pics are encouraged if you plan on housing them  

1 Has finally molted! funny how it is the last one xD All have molted safely, will update as they grow! 

 

[River Dane]

@Bah Aww! That's adorably tiny!

Yeah, they are cute. They're probably just young. I hope (B/J)enny lives long and happily as an adult!

Definitely. But I haven't seen them in a few weeks.   I hope they're okay. 

Also, do jumping spiders molt? And what would you recommend feeding them?

Awesome! XD Maybe the mantis is a female. Good to know that they're all alright! Wish you and them the best of luck!

 

[Bah]

@FluffyMantid Same! C:

They are fearsome hunters  they'll be fine!

I don't have a clue :0 but there is a website about them!

http://kozmicdreams.com/spidercare.htm maybe this will help!

Hope I know soon  

 

[River Dane]

@Bah 

I'll keep an eye out for them!

Thanks, that did help. I'll probably have to reference to that a lot!

Hope so, too!

 

[Digger]

Fluffy,

I've kept several Jumping Spiders ( Phidippus audax) as pets and found them fascinating and, ultimately, rather tame (even hand-feedable).  My last two were Abigal and Thumper.  A picture of Thumper is below, where I handed her a cricket.  I have never been bitten (why would they bite the hand that feeds them) and never seen any aggressive attitude toward my handling.  Smaller species probably couldn't even pierce your skin.  They are aggressive hunters as Bah mentioned and a lot of fun to watch.

 

[Bah]

@FluffyMantid NP!  they aren't too hard to find so goodluck!

 

[Bah]

@Digger OH MY GOODNESS LOOK AT HOW IT'S HOLDING ITS MEAL!! sooooo precious<3

 

[River Dane]

@Digger Good to know! Thank you! Guess I'll give them a shot!

Adorable spider, by the way!

 

[River Dane]

@Bah Thanks! Good luck to you too!

 

[Digger]

I've been a life-long arachnophobe and these guys pretty much cured me of that. 

 

[Bah]

UPDATE

Received my mantids, although two didn't make it I still have one orchid. I have a feeling I receive a bad molt since it cannot stand properly, I will try to care for it and see if it'll molt to better shape 

I named it Nemo ^^

https://streamable.com/4ku7j

Here's a link to Nemo and its enclosure, not the best.. but its warm    

As you can probably see Nemo's legs are spread outwards, the poor thing is just wobbling ..

 

[Digger]

Nemo's very lucky to have such a magnificent home !

 

[T.C.]

Can't the nymphs be kept together?