Minimalist Housing

[sporeworld]

Here's a quick pic of something I did for my silkworms a while back when I wanted to see if a few degree higher or lower affected their growth (essentially, it didn't).

What translates to mantis lovers, is that I think this may be a decent approach for a beginner who gets a mantis "gifted" to them, while they think of something better. Needs air holes in top, but otherwise, pretty simple. I think you could skip the tiny little vase and just run the leaf through the top (hanging down) instead.

 

[sporeworld]

This was a more mature version...

 

[warpdrive]

if you keep showing me ideas like this, I'm going to wind up with more mantids. (is that a bad thing?)

as it is I wound up buying 2 of the tetra water wonders just yesterday at my local petco for my ghosts. STOP MAKING ME SPEND MY MONEY!!!! :angry:

I have enough bugs in my home. what are you trying to do to me? send me to bug shows next? I'm doomed I tell you. I'm gona need pro help shortly if you keep this up. :wacko: :blink:

Harry

 

[Rick]

That would make feeding difficult. This approach is what the 32 oz insect cups are for with the vented lid. No reason to reinvent the wheel.

 

[warpdrive]

That would make feeding difficult. This approach is what the 32 oz insect cups are for with the vented lid. No reason to reinvent the wheel.

I think this is for a temporary housing, ie: free mystery mantids or if you get a ton extra.

but I agree, they could use some drilling for feeding holes.

Harry

 

[Rick]

I think this is for a temporary housing, ie: free mystery mantids or if you get a ton extra.

but I agree, they could use some drilling for feeding holes.

Harry

It is basically the same as the 32 oz many of us use. I consider those to be minimalist housing as well. Same idea basically except the above was designed for something else.

 

[warpdrive]

It is basically the same as the 32 oz many of us use. I consider those to be minimalist housing as well. Same idea basically except the above was designed for something else.

I'm lucky, I work in a deli. not everyone has enough cups...but I feel ya.

Harry

 

[LauraMG]

You can totally use that with a larger hole cut in it and a cotton ball plug. Simple, cheap, no lid required! Although, I think I prefer having lids anyhow cuz they are easy to dump FFs into! Ports can be difficult without a funnel....

 

[sporeworld]

Yeah, if I did this for mantids, I'd put the hole (or 2) in the top (which I DID on a similar version a year or so ago).

The deli cups I've used are a little hazy, and viewing is the point of the whole thing for me (and the challenege). I eventually found some cylindrical ones with only a single seam to break the view, and stuck with those.

 

[LauraMG]

The deli cups I've used are a little hazy, and viewing is the point of the whole thing for me (and the challenege). I eventually found some cylindrical ones with only a single seam to break the view, and stuck with those.

Where have you gotten your cups from?

 

[sporeworld]

Five or 6 different places. The flexible ones always have that slight haze. I used cut 2 liter bottles for a while, and that worked alright. But the rigid containers have been my favorites. Really clear.

I do have some deli cips that aren't hazy, and most of the enclosures at mantisplace are clear AND already cut, so I usually point newbies in that direction - 1 stop shopping - mantis, food, enclosure, tweezers.

I wonder how many of you folks have nets for catching winged escapees...?

 

[LauraMG]

I wonder how many of you folks have nets for catching winged escapees...?

The mantids are usually easy to catch cuz they'll crawl right on your finger

 

[PeterF]

I'm lucky, I work in a deli. not everyone has enough cups...but I feel ya.

Harry

Maybe you need to go into the deli cup online business....