New guy from So-Cal

[MrGhostMantis]

Hello! I’m MrGhostMantis and as you can probably tell by my name, I love mantids!              
        
I only got into the hobby in mid-June when I got my hands on a wonderful little Tendora Sinensis. I named him Cricket. He was lovely and everyday I would take him out and spend time with him and feed him. After a few weeks he molted! I was so exited until he became lethargic. He soon died after. I was DEVASTATED! But the bug had bitten. I LOVED mantids! At the moment I have a mature female Phyllocrania Paradoxa and a soon to molt male. I received these two as L4 nymphs and love them to bits! They are going strong along with my 4 L5-6-7 Giant Asian mantids. I would like to learn more about all mantids and anyone who will respond can give me tips and recommendations to mantids I could get in the future. All mantids are here for our enjoyment and love.

Love,

MrGhostMantis

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Nobody even said hi.  

 

[Synapze]

Welcome to the forum.  

 

[MantisGirl13]

Hi! 

Glad to see someone else my age on here! I saw in another thread you said you were 13? I'm 14. 

- MantisGirl13

 

[hysteresis]

Nobody even said hi.  

Dude, im sorry. You joined overnight. LOL!.

Welcome to the forum! Glad youre with us!

 

[hibiscusmile]

Happy bug keeping!

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Thanks everyone! I was being sarcastic lol. Yes, @MantisGirl13, I am 13. I’m young for my grade; 8th. Any recommendations to what mantids should come next? I’m getting some orchids in the next month or so. Sorry I pulled an overnighted with my mantids to catch moths for THEIR Thanksgiving feast.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Here are a few more of my critters.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

My accidental picking up of my heavy pre-molt tarantula shook me.

 

[Mantis Lady]

Welcome

cute picture with your 4 mantids together.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Thanks! They are all so friendly!

 

[MantisGirl13]

Your mantids and spiders are beautiful! Orchids are great, and I'd say take whatever you can get your hands on for a good price. That's what I do. Lol

- MantisGirl13

 

[MrGhostMantis]

The thing is my parents are getting frustrated with buying all the supplies for my mantids so I need to cool down. Once I start selling nymphs I will pay them back and start buying my own mantids. Do you have any care tips on orchids?

 

[Evan Bulcao]

Glad you joined, take a look through the care sheet page. It's very helpful!!

 

[MrGhostMantis]

I did! It really helped!

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Anyone have personal care tips with orchids? I would really appreciate them. I’m so worried I would kill them!

 

[hysteresis]

Anyone have personal care tips with orchids? I would really appreciate them. I’m so worried I would kill them!

Yeh. Soaking them is the fasted route to death. Wetness and humidity are different things. My recommendation is that you apply your 'humidity' water into the substrate. On top of that, and depending on how dry it is where you live, maybe spray the insides of the cup twice a day - morning, and then at night. That's just so they drink. The humidity should mainly come from the substrate. Humidity should probably be highest at night. .

Also, about tall glass enclosures. People like them because they look great with orchids, but without cross-ventilation, your orchid will have a hard time getting air. My rule of thumb is that the enclosure depth should be no more than twice the 'mouth' width. Beyond that, you'll want to install cross vents, and that wont happen in a glass enclosure.

While many keep their orchids alive at room temp, I recommend a daytime minimum of 75 or 76.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

I'm getting 2 males and 1 female and I was told the males should be kept at room temperature and females kept in a container with heat mats on the side. Temperature should be kept around 85* and humidity levels around 80%.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Humidity does not need to be that high. Spray heavily once or twice a day depending on the ventilation in the cage, and that's it. Humidity also doesn't have to he constant. Your female can be kept around 80-85°, hotter than that is pushing it.

- MantisGirl13