Praying Mantises have Spoiled Me

[Krissim Klaw]

They really have when it comes to pets. They are so insanely easy to care for and the upkeep cost is pretty much non existant. I don't need special lighting or heating for any of the species I care for. Cages can be as simple or complex as I want to go. They are stunning and interesting to watch. They don't hide away in a burrow all day leaving me to stare at a seemingly empty tank.

When I wake up in the morning I can reach into one of my cages, pull out plant with a mantis sitting on it and set it right on my desk. To give you an idea of my daily routine today I pulled out a plant with my lovely Creo lady, Zombie, sitting on it. She spent all day chilling on the plant , which I had placed on my desk. She watches my computer screen when I am at it or will sit for hours staring at the TV. She is partial to monster movies involving bugs.

At one point during the day my mom was willing to let her flutter hop to her for the first time so I lowered my hand to the plant and Zombie crawled right on. She hand walked for a bit, amused us both with her little flutter hop jumps, and when I was done I set her back down on her plant where she settled right back down. I find Mantises far more relaxed about handling the other primtive/exotic type critters in the pet trade. Ever curious and drawn to motion they aren't like many critters that will spend all their time trying to get away.

Later in the night I popped a cricket into a little plastic cup, held it up to her, and she snagged it. She ate her meal from the plant, finished, and continued to be a peaceful desk companion. After having her out the entire day all I have to do is stick her plant back in her cage when I am ready to go to bed. It really doesn't get easier than that.

 

[HungryGhost]

Agreed! Of all the exotics I've had in my life mantids are the cream of the crop for all of the reasons you mentioned. They are new to me as a pet but boy am I hooked.

 

[hibiscusmile]

haha! gotta love em!

 

[MandellaMandy123]

I think mine have spoiled me too. I got out my L6 ghostie, Maoilseachlainn, and put him on the computer. He's stayed there all day. In comparison, my dog, who needs a four-mile walk five times a week, seems like a lot of work. Of course, that's probably because she is. :lol:

 

[ShieldMantid1997]

Am i the only one that spends a lot on them,, between the lighting for my gongys and the exo terras for my other species :helpsmilie:

 

[devetaki9]

I do too Shield mine only drink glaceau vitamin water, organic honey and home raised feeders of any sort. I don't consider that I spend a lot of money but I definitely spend most of my free time with them. I am fortunate that I have them in my life and can spoil them I am also fortunate in that they are just my hobby and not a business, that way I can spend more on housing etc. People who raise them as a business have my utmost gratitude and admiration, it truly takes dedication

 

[Krissim Klaw]

Agreed! Of all the exotics I've had in my life mantids are the cream of the crop for all of the reasons you mentioned. They are new to me as a pet but boy am I hooked.

They are addictive little bugs.

haha! gotta love em!

You know I do. :wub:

I think mine have spoiled me too. I got out my L6 ghostie, Maoilseachlainn, and put him on the computer. He's stayed there all day. In comparison, my dog, who needs a four-mile walk five times a week, seems like a lot of work. Of course, that's probably because she is. :lol:

Hahaha dogs do take a lot of work but they also give a ton back. I don't know what I would do without my furry shadow following me around the house.

Am i the only one that spends a lot on them,, between the lighting for my gongys and the exo terras for my other species :helpsmilie:

My statement was along the lines of you can spend as little or as much as you want. I have a couple custom made cages and tons of net enclosures of various sizes. If I had the room you can bet I would have one of the walk in huge mansion net cages Monarch sells. Not to mention there is all the decorations for inside the cages I have collected over the years. Still even with all I have spent over the ten plus years I've kept them I wouldn't be surprised if I spend over that yearly just on my dog.

I do too Shield mine only drink glaceau vitamin water, organic honey and home raised feeders of any sort. I don't consider that I spend a lot of money but I definitely spend most of my free time with them. I am fortunate that I have them in my life and can spoil them I am also fortunate in that they are just my hobby and not a business, that way I can spend more on housing etc. People who raise them as a business have my utmost gratitude and admiration, it truly takes dedication

I spend a lot of time with mine also but it is mostly play not work. =3

 

[PlayingMantis]

I let my pet mantis free roam the living room table where I worked on my computer yesterday. It made my work day much more interesting. She is ever so curious, always walking around and climbing all the papers I have on my table. She spent a good part of the day looking at me, and then she walked towards me and climbed on top of my laptop. She wasn't really obstructing my screen so I let her sit there. I love her so much!!

 

[Extrememantid]

For me it all started when I was 7 years old, when I saw a video of a orchid mantis on YouTube. When I was 10 I got my first European mantis... Well my first 5 European males. And I've had them every year and now I'm almost 14 and breeding a pair of European mantids as I type

 

[twolfe]

Am i the only one that spends a lot on them,, between the lighting for my gongys and the exo terras for my other species :helpsmilie:

I spent a lot on housing in the beginning because I do use a lot of terrariums for the larger species. The nice thing about terrariums is that they last. I find that the plastic deli cups and lids eventually crack and need to be replaced. Nowadays my main expense is feeders. I make my own fruit fly cultures and haven't had to buy ff for 1.5 years. However, I've been buying between 1,500 - 2,000 blue bottle fly pupae/larvae for the past six months or longer. A couple of times I think I got 4,000 bb pupae. I'd like to downsize for the winter since it's getting too cold to catch insects outside.