Tiffany on a Blankee

[Digger]

Tiffany Mantis is getting very old (11 months) and she is beginning to require special handling and care.

Here she is on a fresh blankee, placed under a 100 watt bulb for extra resting comfort.

 

[sally]

Awww sweet little old lady

 

[Vlodek]

For her age she looks amazing. You really know how to take care of the elderly Digger.

 

[MandellaMandy123]

So sweet! :wub:

 

[Sticky]

What is your secret for keeping your mantids young for so long? And, would Tiffany like a handmade blankee? No dyes, supersoft exotic handspun yarns. I can make it to a specific size.

 

[HungryGhost]

She doesn't look a day over 8 months! ;^)

 

[hibiscusmile]

Do I spot a box of chocolates behind her? :kiss:

 

[Digger]

Do I spot a box of chocolates behind her? :kiss:

Rebecca - do you mean the light blue card? No chocolates, unfortunately.

 

[Digger]

She doesn't look a day over 8 months! ;^)

She'll be very happy to read this !

 

[Digger]

What is your secret for keeping your mantids young for so long? And, would Tiffany like a handmade blankee? No dyes, supersoft exotic handspun yarns. I can make it to a specific size.

Your blankees are already on my wishlist for a b'day present (this summer). No secret. I am the Mantid Whisperer !

 

[Sticky]

If you can give me the dimensions I can start them now. Pm me with the info and fiber you want them made of.

 

[Summerbug]

That's pretty amazing! Tiffany is in great shape! The longest I've ever had female T. sinensis is 9 months (with 6-7 months as the average). The ones wild caught usually seem to live longer. Maybe due to better food diversity? I love mantises at all ages. I put all kinds of soft blankees and towels down (ground nests) for them too and try to keep them warm & happy. They especially like window nests. Many of the ones I keep seem to lose their feet & tarsus when they geet old. How do you keep Tiffany's feet so intact? Lotion? I have never had the heart to put one out of its' misery...just make them comfortable. I found they have less (or no) spasms (towards the end) if you don't overdo with water. Anyone else observe that?

 

[Digger]

That's pretty amazing! Tiffany is in great shape! The longest I've ever had female T. sinensis is 9 months (with 6-7 months as the average). The ones wild caught usually seem to live longer. Maybe due to better food diversity? I love mantises at all ages. I put all kinds of soft blankees and towels down (ground nests) for them too and try to keep them warm & happy. They especially like window nests. Many of the ones I keep seem to lose their feet & tarsus when they geet old. How do you keep Tiffany's feet so intact? Lotion? I have never had the heart to put one out of its' misery...just make them comfortable. I found they have less (or no) spasms (towards the end) if you don't overdo with water. Anyone else observe that?

Tiffany is unusual in that she's only lost one tarsi, so far. That's luck. No lotion! I suspect that would be very bad if not highly toxic to any mantid. She was raised from a hatch and, outside of summer wild-caught prey, fed almost exclusively on well-gutted crickets (fish food, commercial cricket munch mix, oatmeal, calcium water gel and occasional fruit. Never carrots) and mealworms, and Darkling Beetle pupae. Although I've always held that older T. sinensis need extra drinking water, I think you are on to something in trying just the opposite. Vomiting (that vile acidic smell) usually starts with a drink.