my wonderful Creo

[warpdrive]

Hi everyone,

I want to start by saying that I had no idea how smart my mantids could be. they just keep suprizing me all the time. my ghosts are realy smart and know how to drive me nuts when I feed them or clean the deli cups. two of them even came out when I had removed the sponge stoper to mist them, and what a pain to get them back in. I think this shows what they think of me... :stupid:

also, once out, they start to dance for me (clearly a distraction). then they must count to 3 and then split up and zip away in different directions in order to explore. :blink:

one time they all stayed still forever and I picked one up for a photo. OMG, I think they planed it that way. once I started paying attention to that one mantid on my finger the rest took off!!! :scooter:

then, when I was smart enough to get only one out to play with it, I didn't realise I was next to my Chameleon's cage and he was looking at the ghost as food. the silly ghost was so smart that he could not be eaten and kept jumping from one finger to the next in my hand without me realizing what was going on. I just thought the manted was showing off to me, but NOOOO, he was teasing my chameleon. :blush:

my Creo is much more well behaved. she is not that exploritive. mostly staying put if I open her tub. she is smart though. she kind of finds a crossroad that all the fruitflys must walk buy and stays there in order to feast on them.

SHE IS SUCH A PIG!!!! she eats at least 4 to 6 fruitflys a day. she even eats the day before she molts. both when she turned to L2, and when she just turned L3. I see her eat more often then I see any ghost eat, and I have 10 ghosts so far.

she also is almost never upside down besides when she molts. and sometimes looks like a spider waiting for her prey.

here are some photos of my creo...

my Creo eating the day before she molted to L3

just finished molting and licking some water off of her yesterday.

what she looks like today

from behind

one of my L3 ghosts

ok, if this ghost is sooo smart, why can't I teach her to clean up my loose skin around my nails while she is so conserned about being clean herself?

I hope you enjoyed,

Harry

 

[hibiscusmile]

Nice story! like the first sign! enjoyed it! they are now ready for house flies, fruit flies are not enough and ps, ghost must think u need to wash , u r making her feet dirty :lol: :tt2:

 

[warpdrive]

you mean like this Rebecca?

Harry

 

[Jesskb]

love that last pic!

 

[LauraMG]

Ghosts are sneaky! I've had problems with creobroters escaping everywhere though. They squeeze out of tiny little spaces and RUN! I've squished a few creobroter legs over the months....

 

[warpdrive]

Ghosts are sneaky! I've had problems with creobroters escaping everywhere though. They squeeze out of tiny little spaces and RUN! I've squished a few creobroter legs over the months....

realy? my Creo is so tame. she would never run anywhere. it took me forever just to get her out to clean her tub and take the pics.

so what did she do while out on my finger? watch TV. she's a coutch potato at heart.

I am wondering if she will take houseflys by now...will probably try tomorrow. she is L3 but still smaller then my L3 ghosts.

Harry

 

[yen_saw]

just finished molting and licking some water off of her yesterday.

Nice looking Creo there. Could be a male.

Also, avoid heavy misting the mantis right after molting if possible.

 

[warpdrive]

Nice looking Creo there. Could be a male.

Also, avoid heavy misting the mantis right after molting if possible.

thank you Yen for the tip.

I tryed not to get him/her wet, but I'm still not perfect while misting a small deli container.

I did open the top for extra ventalation once I noticed I got it wet...then took that photo.

so you think it's a he? I'm still counting 5 to 6 segments in the photo at the top of it's rear. maybe it's still too soon to tell. what do I know.

again, thanks for the input.

Harry

 

[hibiscusmile]

Yeppers, thats what I be a meaning :lol:

 

[Precarious]

Nice pics!

Here's what I do when nymphs go wild. Keep the container closed but the foam stopper out. Just twist your hand so the nymph is centered on the hole and press your skin to the lid. It will run off your hand and into the container.

Ghost nymphs are pretty crazy, but Gambian nymphs are little demons! Well, more like gremlins. They run up your arm faster than you can even track with your eyes. Then they look at you all cute, like asking "what?" :lol: