Need to know everything...

[adam98150]

Hi, i'm Adam, new to the forum.

I've been doing some research on mantids, and the different types and varieties. I'm looking for a very social mantis, which could be housed with 2 - 3 others of the same sex. I want them to be one of the larger mantids, 90 - 110 mm in length looks very tempting.

So what mantis would you suggest?

What is it's natural environment and preferred temp?

how large of a tank would i need to house 3?

How much and how often do i feed?

Thank you, Adam

 

[pedro92]

Well ghosts are very communal unless you starve them but only get to about 2-3 inches big. I dont know the other communal species.

EDIT: Also dont forget to introduce yourself to the forum in the Introduce Yourself part if you cant find it here is the link

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?showforum=15

 

[Rick]

You can't house them together unless you want to end up with some missing. Some may do better together than others but they all eat one another.

Please try the search feature because the basics have been answered many times already.

 

[adam98150]

That was very helpful! I think i'm ready for my mantis!

....

 

[jarek]

I would recomend Idolomorpha. My nymphs were for about 1,5 week together with no food and they didn't even looked at eadch other

 

[adam98150]

I would recomend Idolomorpha. My nymphs were for about 1,5 week together with no food and they didn't even looked at eadch other

Thank you, Jarek. I'll take a look at them.

 

[Rob Byatt]

A beginners mantis is called for here......Sphodromantis sp. or Hierodula membranacea.

Forget social mantids - they don't exist and the ones that co-habit are not suitable as your first mantis

Don't try to run before you can walk.

 

[idolomantis]

^ i,m with that guy

 

[Hypoponera]

I have to disagree to some extent. I find some of the "semi-social" species to be far easier to keep then Sphodromantis or Hierodula. Just depends on which species you keep. I had 31 late instar Arizona unicorns, (Pseudovates arizonae), in a 10 gallon tank with no evidence of cannibalism. I did keep the tank crawling with flies though! I just moved half to another 10 gallon tank today. I have kept 12 Texas unicorns, (Phyllovates chlorophaea), all the way to "death by old age" in the same set up with no problems. I have had the same results with Pseudovates peruviana as well.

I like that I can do all the "house work" at one time. Why mist 20 containers of a solitary species when you can have them together and mist one large tank? Feeding is just as easy. You just dump the flies in one tank instead of 10. And only one tank to clean out periodically. Sorry, I am lazy! I like to watch the mantids, not work hard on maintaining them.

 

[matt020593]

Thank you, Jarek. I'll take a look at them.

Don't try Idolomorpha as a first mantis. It's heck keeping them alive! LOL

They're a lovely species though.