New to Hobby -- Photos!

[user 8688]

Hi, all. I'm looking to start keeping mantises, so I've been reading the threads here for the past couple of days on the recommendation of an internet acquaintance. There's so much! So many exotic species! So many tips on breeding! But I will be content keeping only one as a pet. I'm hoping to find a suitable enclosure this weekend and start setting up. Then I have to find my mantis buddy.
I've had cats and dogs all my life, along with the occasional Other. I've kept fish -- some requiring live prey -- for years, but have none at the present. I'm currently temporary co-caretaker of three snakes: two ball pythons and a small boa. I can definitely keep animals alive, even those with sensitive habitat requirements.

Although the orchid mantis is super appealing, I think I'd like to start with T. sinensis. I fell in love with them this summer after "rehoming" two from my terrified mother's front door to my backyard garden, twenty miles away. I'm fairly certain that the first one is T. sinensis judging by her (I think? she was big) face stripes. I'm less sure about the one on the tomato plant, since I don't have any good shots of its face. The green one was so curious about me! Each time I handled her, she refused to be put down. I was very tempted to keep her, but I didn't want to take some random mantis and stick her in a jar knowing nothing about her. But look at her! The image of her on my arm is blurry because it's an action shot. She was still climbing.

 

[user 8688]

Whoa, hey, those pics are enormous when clicked on. I'm working on downsizing them, but this might take a while.

Fixed.

 

[sally]

Welcome

 

[CosbyArt]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Nothing wrong with huge photos (especially in the enlarged size click option) as many of us have no internet issues, heck I tested my speed just now and I am getting 87.94Mbps

Anyway too bad you didn't keep the Chinese girl, perhaps you can still find her? It is very rare for a pet to be able to chose a owner like that, and it would be a special pet. Nice though you got photos of her, and I like the action shot of her on your arm the best

If you are looking for container ideas have a look at my mantid habitat guide as I list many options of found and modified containers.

 

[happy1892]

Welcome to the forum. Mantids tend to want to keep climbing higher and higher up your arm when you try to put them down. lol Yes, the green one and the brown one look like Chinese Mantids, though there is another similar species (Tenodera angustipennis) also introduced to the United States (with a smaller range than T. sinensis) that I cannot distinguish from a Chinese Mantis from just looking at photos.

Here is a how to tell the difference between the two species.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/576042

Are you going to use a net cage for a Chinese Mantis or a large critter keeper?

 

[Rick]

Welcome.

They are definitely Tenodera but as mentioned already, they could be the less common T. angustipennis. Look for orange in the "armpits", sinensis has yellow there. There are other differences but that is the most obvious one.

 

[happy1892]

Welcome.

They are definitely Tenodera but as mentioned already, they could be the less common T. angustipennis. Look for orange in the "armpits", sinensis has yellow there. There are other differences but that is the most obvious one.

In this picture the T. angustipennis has a bright yellow dot:

http://mantidforum.net/forums/index.php?app=galleryℑ=4448

 

[hibiscusmile]

I found one too the other day, welcome!

 

[dmina]

 

[user 8688]

Are you going to use a net cage for a Chinese Mantis or a large critter keeper?

I was looking for a critter keeper, but haven't found one I like yet. If I could just turn one on its side, to give the mantis some vertical space, I'd be happy. But, alas, they only open one way. I'd really like to find something in a brick-and-mortar store so that I can get a better idea of the space, but I might have to look online.

Also, hi everyone! Thanks for the welcome.