Minimum temperatures?

[RevWillie]

I'm going to have to take my mantis to a babysitter for a week and they are in a colder climate. If they don't heat their house, what are the minimum temps for the following mantis before they have cold-related problems:

Creos

Orchids

Ghosts

Will nights of 65 be a problem? Nights of 60? Nights of 55?

Days in the 70s should be easily do-able.

Thanks.

 

[gripen]

I lost a texas unicorn last night do to 65 degree weather at night

 

[PhilinYuma]

I would try to avoid goig below 70F day or night. Perhaps you could set up a portable heat lamp? You'll need to check it against a good thermometer, though.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Yep, 55-60 is probably death for the Orchid!

 

[RevWillie]

I lost a texas unicorn last night do to 65 degree weather at night

That sounds pretty extreme, are you sure it was the temperature? I mean, Texas has lows above 65 for a rather short time of the year, maybe 4-5 months?

I'll see if the mantis can be kept in a warmer room, or maybe the orchids will have to go on the road with me... :blink:

Any other opinions?

 

[angelofdeathzz]

supply some cheap lights and a timer for heat?

 

[gripen]

texas unicorns don't live in texas they live in mexico. i am pretty certain it was the heat that killed her (RIP) because that night i moved her out of the heat lamp.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Phyllovates chlorophaea lives pricipally in Central America, but its range extends up through Mexico into S.E. Texas, despite the best efforts of the BP and ICE. Houston has average minimum temps above F65, only from June thru September (http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/united-states/texas/houston/,) which covers most of the growth and reproductive life of this mantis, and it spends the winter months in a well insulated ooth. But in any of these warmer months, a drop of +7F below the average low would bring the temp to 65F so it would seem that your unfortunate unicorn, Gripen, may have been on his last legs, anyway, and if a male, old age and the temp may have finished him off.

 

[gripen]

she was 3 weeks into adult. i think id might have gotten to 55 because i checked the temp in the morning not in the depths of the night.

 

[meaganelise9]

yeah, that sounds pretty cold. it's easy to obtain a heat lamp. mine came with a clamp. and why does this babysitter keep the house so cold? hachi machi.

 

[rs4guy]

This brings up my question of light. I assume most of you mantain temps through lighting. If so, is a 24 light hour cycle bad for a mantis? If it is, how are temps mantained at night? Thanks......

 

[meaganelise9]

They do like a light and dark part of the day like we do, I know. I bought a nighttime heat lamp at a local reptile store for mine so it can have heat all the time and get light from the sun. My B. mendica likes it hot.

 

[RevWillie]

yeah, that sounds pretty cold. it's easy to obtain a heat lamp. mine came with a clamp. and why does this babysitter keep the house so cold? hachi machi.

I'm just thinking back to times I've stayed at their house (not always October), and the forecast looks like lows around 59 for the forseeable.

Just planning ahead and trying to make sure the mantis survive until I can take them home again. And I'm trying to keep the babysitting simple so the 'hosts' don't have to fuss much. Setting up heat lamps to cover a dozen cages is something I'd like to avoid if possible.

BTW MeaganElise - some diurnal temp changes are supposed to be good. I'm not totally familiar with B. mendica but there must be some daily variation in their natural habitat.

 

[meaganelise9]

duly noted (i'm still learning). a dozen cages! wow

 

[RevWillie]

Talked to my buddy and he assures me that the house will be 75 or warmer, and he is excited to see and take care of the mantises - cool!