Thinking of buying a mantid and etc.

[Oneal]

I have a couple of questions.

1. I live in in Puerto Rico does my insects/feeders have to have a fan or something for temp control? (normal temp here is 80-95F)

2. As I said I live in PR, is there a website that I can get a couple of ghosts and Fruit Flies for cheap that have a live on arrival gurrantee?

3. what plants can be in a mantid terrarium with only the sunlight that enters the room?

 

[CosbyArt]

1. A fan wouldn't do much if anything for insects, as a fan works for humans as it evaporates sweat making it feel cool. It would depend on the species you get as some could handle the temps fine (especially the lower end), but others would have to have air conditioning for the temps to be brought in a livable range.

2. I don't know of any off hand at all, let along any that are cheap and offer a live guarantee (hard to find in the US even without express shipping and that is not cheap). The only one I know of that will likely ship to your country is Exo Factory, see the feedback here. You would have to contact other online stores and see if they will ship to you, as most I know ship to the US only (or their own countries).

3. That would depend on how big the window is/what direction it faces/how much light enters/how many hours per day light enters the window/etc. and how far away the terrarium is. In most circumstances unless the terrarium is in a very bright window sill there are few options. See the link here for low light plants and more here, but even those require more light than likely will be received from a window alone. The best option is to get some fluorescent UV/daylight bulbs and fixtures for any plants to thrive.

Fruit flies are easy enough to catch using a easy trap if you don't mind using the flying (wild) variety, I prefer them myself. Also if you can do your own searching for wild mantids, there appear to be many species in your country - see a list of them here.

 

[MantisRCool]

I would go for a wild caught mantis in your case also

 

[Oneal]

1. A fan wouldn't do much if anything for insects, as a fan works for humans as it evaporates sweat making it feel cool. It would depend on the species you get as some could handle the temps fine (especially the lower end), but others would have to have air conditioning for the temps to be brought in a livable range.

2. I don't know of any off hand at all, let along any that are cheap and offer a live guarantee (hard to find in the US even without express shipping and that is not cheap). The only one I know of that will likely ship to your country is Exo Factory, see the feedback here. You would have to contact other online stores and see if they will ship to you, as most I know ship to the US only (or their own countries).

3. That would depend on how big the window is/what direction it faces/how much light enters/how many hours per day light enters the window/etc. and how far away the terrarium is. In most circumstances unless the terrarium is in a very bright window sill there are few options. See the link here for low light plants and more here, but even those require more light than likely will be received from a window alone. The best option is to get some fluorescent UV/daylight bulbs and fixtures for any plants to thrive.

Fruit flies are easy enough to catch using a easy trap if you don't mind using the flying (wild) variety, I prefer them myself. Also if you can do your own searching for wild mantids, there appear to be many species in your country - see a list of them here.

thanks

 

[CosbyArt]

thanks

Your welcome, although I'm sorry it isn't what you was hoping for. I would ship you both just for the price of shipping costs, but with US customs/laws that is sadly impossible. I wish you well in finding them.