Returning Hobbyist

[Zielo]

Hello everyone. Ive decided to get back into mantids after a long hiatus. These beautiful insects fascinated me as a kid and Ive always been so drawn to them. I have never owned anything outside of your average chinese mantis however so now I am on the lookout for the really unique ones. My goal is to get an Hymenopus Coronatus (orchid) mantis.

 

[mantiseater]

Welcome Back!

 

[CosbyArt]

Hello and welcome back - just a friendly warning a Orchid mantid is not a beginners species.

 

[LAME]

Hello and welcome back - just a friendly warning a Orchid mantid is not a beginners species.

Agree. Work up to them... And welcome

 

[Rick]

Welcome

 

[dmina]

BACK!

 

[Zielo]

Hello and welcome back - just a friendly warning a Orchid mantid is not a beginners species.

Can I ask why that is? There isnt a whole lot I know about them yet- doing the research as we speak. Nothing im seeing though states that they are hard to raise.

I havent had a whole lot in terms of mantids, aside from chinese, I was relatively successful with those. But I do also raise chameleons and other reptiles so im very familiar with hard to raise animals especially in terms of humidity, stress, feeding, etc. Is there something about the orchids that differentiates them from other mantises?

 

[CosbyArt]

Can I ask why that is? There isnt a whole lot I know about them yet- doing the research as we speak. Nothing im seeing though states that they are hard to raise.

I havent had a whole lot in terms of mantids, aside from chinese, I was relatively successful with those. But I do also raise chameleons and other reptiles so im very familiar with hard to raise animals especially in terms of humidity, stress, feeding, etc. Is there something about the orchids that differentiates them from other mantises?

One reason is Orchids require higher humidity of 60-80% and as a result many new keepers have issues with them molting, which kills them typically. I've also read some have issues with feeding, as Orchids can be so docile and shy - which may be also in part to the often large tanks the mantids are kept in.

By all means try them if you want, I just didn't want you to have problems with your mantids. If you are reading about them and with your experience with reptiles you should be fine.

 

[Zielo]

Oh yeah 60-80% is nothing, I was even thinking of doing a live planted viv for mine. Ive raised chams, a rainbow boa, and currently some crested gecksos with live plants, all very tropical animals. Im not too worried.

 

[CosbyArt]

Oh yeah 60-80% is nothing, I was even thinking of doing a live planted viv for mine. Ive raised chams, a rainbow boa, and currently some crested gecksos with live plants, all very tropical animals. Im not too worried.

Sounds nice, vivariums are few on here. Post some photos when you get it done.