Sphodromantis sp. Blue Flash Handling

[kmsgameboy]

I just got some Blue Flash mantids yesterday and this is my first time raising these cool little guys. I enjoy handling my mantis "pets" and usualy do so by grabing whatever it is they are perched on, then placing my hand at an angle (to create an upward ramp) in front of them and most of the time they just climb on, however these guys seem to want to go anywhere but my hand! Ive tried blowing on them from behind and even giving them a gentle "nudge" but no matter what they just seem to want to hang from the leaf each one has chosen as their new home and they haven really moved from those spots. (They are reminding me a lot of stubbern ghost mantids.) Are these guys just not a good species to handle? Is there a trick that I dont know about? Or should I give them more time to get used to their new digs?

 

[mantidsaresweet]

I have one that if you even touch him with anything he'll go into a threat display lol. He still likes to climb all around my arms and my room but is kind of a mean little guy. I think that is has some to do with the personality of the individual as well as the species as a whole so maybe your guys/girls just don't want to be handled lol.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Does sound weird, most mantis (any species) climb right on my hand almost immediately if I go slow, most actually want to be held when they see me?

Maybe wash your hands in fly guts and give it another try... Hahaha

 

[Idolofreak]

Does sound weird, most mantis (any species) climb right on my hand almost immediately if I go slow, most actually want to be held when they see me?

Maybe wash your hands in fly guts and give it another try... Hahaha

Nah, even if that was possible, they'd just bite. My hand smelled like honey one time and one of my ghost nymphs bit me, but she was so small it didn't hurt.

 

[kmsgameboy]

Yeah...Im kinda trying to avoid any biting or stabbing. I dont want to do anything to stress it out either though.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Sorry man, I know you want a serious answer, that I don't have. PM Precarious and ask him, I know he has/had them is about the best I can tell you.

 

[kmsgameboy]

Sorry man, I know you want a serious answer, that I don't have. PM Precarious and ask him, I know he has/had them is about the best I can tell you.

Yeah he was one of the first people I though of but I thought I would give the other members a chance to sound off before I go bugging someone with a PM.

 

[Rick]

Handle them the same as any other kind of mantis.

 

[wyethia]

Just keep trying a few more times and either you'll get the knack or they will get more used to being handled. I was really surprised when I first got my blue flash about how hard it was to get them to move--they seem to just want to dig in and glare at your hand. I didn't learn any sort of trick, I just left them alone that particular day and found that its just easier sometimes to move them than others.

Wyethia

 

[kmsgameboy]

Just keep trying a few more times and either you'll get the knack or they will get more used to being handled. I was really surprised when I first got my blue flash about how hard it was to get them to move--they seem to just want to dig in and glare at your hand. I didn't learn any sort of trick, I just left them alone that particular day and found that its just easier sometimes to move them than others. Wyethia

So I was right. They are stubborn! I dont mind that they just hang out in one spot all day like ghost mantids but atleast ghosts will climb onto my hand. Oh well...either I will get used to them or they will get used to me, either way its always fun to have a new species.