most active species?

[Crazy4mantis]

Hi, guys

So far, almost all of my mantids that I've kept were flower/leaf etc. species that hardly ever moved and stayed still the whole day. I think I'm going to try something new and get an ACTIVE mantis. I know mantids are camouflage predators and don't move much, but I think there must be a species that is at least sort of a hunter that actively moves around the enclosure. I think the big non-flower/leaf ones chase prey and mios are active. In your opinion, which is the MOST aggressive/active species you've ever kept?

 

[Paradoxica]

I just got a Giant Asian Mantis, he's still a nymph about L3 or L4, but he is much more active than any other mantis I have kept. He will literally run circles around his enclosure chasing flies. I have never kept this species so maybe he will mellow out when he gets older but Im not sure.

 

[sueb4653]

I have chinese and they will run up my arm, I also giant asian who was very active but as I handle more is alot quieter will sit on my hand, a dead leaf that stays in one spot all the time, tuamantis that is quite lively.

 

[nebrakacinese]

I'm buying some Asians at the end of the month,but my newly caught chinese are aggressive hunters.Lineolas are aggressive in my opinion also.

 

[happy1892]

Polyspilota aeruginosa chase prey faster than most mantids so I would say they are active for a mantis.

 

[massaman]

Orthoderas are active and look around and move alot but other times they stay in place

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Chinese mantises would give most species a run for their crickets. This is the one species I really have to watch when I take them out because I will set one on my desk plant and two minutes later it will be on the other side of my room, hanging from my ceiling. :taz:

 

[MantidDan]

Chinese mantises would give most species a run for their crickets. This is the one species I really have to watch when I take them out because I will set one on my desk plant and two minutes later it will be on the other side of my room, hanging from my ceiling. :taz:

my Chinese is on my computer right now and he is staying pretty still(probably because he sees the cursor)

 

[nebrakacinese]

Back when I first got in the hobby my chinese would watch TV with me,cool species

 

[Norlin]

While my chinese are super active, my taumantis and giant asian don't seem to be as active, probably because they're still quite small. However, my budwing is crazy...will actively hunt prey any time it lands in his enclosure...even when his abdomen looks near bursting full.

 

[happy1892]

Female Chinese Mantids move around a lot more than female Sphodromantis sp ."Blue Flash" which do not move away from their place much at all.

 

[Krissim Klaw]

my Chinese is on my computer right now and he is staying pretty still(probably because he sees the cursor)

I admittedly derive much pleasure in teasing my mantises with the mouse cursor. :innocent:

 

[agent A]

Creos r pretty active

So r sybilla and hierodula and Sphodromantis

 

[happy1892]

Creos r pretty active

So r sybilla and hierodula and Sphodromantis

Female Sphodromantis sp. "Blue Flash" are NOT active! Or at least the two females I had. They stay in the same place forever. :clown:

 

[tylersterrain]

I have found my Egyptian Mantis (Miomantis paykullii) to be very active. He loves to climb and take small jumps (really fun to watch jump from hand to hand as I elevate one over the other).

 

[happy1892]

I have found my Egyptian Mantis (Miomantis paykullii) to be very active. He loves to climb and take small jumps (really fun to watch jump from hand to hand as I elevate one over the other).

Just about all mantids do that. How about some kind of ground mantis like thingy. :yawn:

 

[Chivalry]

I have found my Egyptian Mantis (Miomantis paykullii) to be very active. He loves to climb and take small jumps (really fun to watch jump from hand to hand as I elevate one over the other).

Seconded. Active, but not "jumpy." I think this is a highly underrated species. They want to come out and look around every time you open the enclosure (and I usually have to trick mine to go back in!)

Also, if you want something that's fun to watch when not hunting, P. wahlbergii are constantly moving around doing their little "dance". At least as nymphs, mine's still L5.

 

[Crazy4mantis]

Hmmmmm I also heard walbergii will move after food, at least a little bit.

 

[Chivalry]

Oh, they do... I just meant, some mantids are active hunters and not very active otherwise. Spinies are just generally busy.