New Ghost Mantis

[anti]

Hi,

I got a new Ghost Mantis about 4 days ago. I put it in a plastic cup (around 2 inches wide by 3 inches tall), covered with a net, some moist paper on the bottom, and 2 small sticks so she could climb.

Now, some questions :

1/ she is around 1.5 cm long when fully extended, what instar would that be please?

2/ I threw a large winged aphid and a tiny moth with her and she hasn't touched them... what shall I do? Is it that bad not to eat for days? Should I force feed?

3/ Humidity is around 60 - 80% outside the cup, so that's OK I guess...

4/ The temperature is around 20 degrees celsius, should I move her on a heatmat to increase that?

5/ Do you have any tricks on how to mist mantids in cups when there are other feeder insects with them?

6/ Any other trips or tricks for a beginner please? ( I just kept a Mantis religiosa around 15 years ago)

Thanks a lot.........

 

[anti]

anyone?

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Does her abdomen appear fat/have some shape? Mine usually only take flies, the occasional cricket, and sometimes moths.

 

[PhilinYuma]

One reason for her not eating may be that she is molting. NEVER try to force feed an insect. They know better than we do. A lamp close to the pot should provide the extra warmth. Run it for 12hrs daily.

Ghosts are stalkers, so they will take flying (flies) and non flying (crix roaches) prey. It sounds about right for D. hydei right now. Order some and learn how to raise them.

Cut a small hole (1"sq) in the side and lid of yr pot) -- though if you are using a net top, it will just have to be the side. Plug the hole with a block of sponge (Mantisplace stocks round ones that will fit nicely, if you don't want to make yr own). At feeding time, remove the plug, insert a funnel if you are feeding ffs, and afterward,close it back up. This hole also serves for misting. I always have a small population of loose mantids in my bug room, and their major source is my forgetting to put the bung back in time

Just feed and mist yr ghost regularly, leave it alone if appears ready to molt (you'll learn the look) and you should do fine.

 

[anti]

Hi,

Thanks a lot.

This night she shed well, so maybe that was the problem...

She now has some red pattern, is that normal for a ghost?

Are winged aphids OK?

Thanks again

 

[dgerndt]

Hi,

Thanks a lot.

This night she shed well, so maybe that was the problem...

She now has some red pattern, is that normal for a ghost?

Are winged aphids OK?

Thanks again

A reddish hue is very normal for ghost mantids. And aphids should be okay, but most of us here use fruitflies.

 

[anti]

She finally ate

she was ignoring the aphids and the tiny moths,

but then I threw her a tiny fly and she ate it,

after I gave her a normal sized house-fly (about half her size) and she devoured it too

I'm really excited now.

Just one question - How much shall I give her? a normal sized housefly a day is enough?

Thanks

 

[anti]

another small question - is it safe to handle a mantis after it has eaten?

 

[hibiscusmile]

Give her about 3 or 4 flies a day till next molt and yes u can handle her then.

 

[anti]

thanks a lot