Too many mantis nymphs...

[AltarMantis]

Hi all, just had my first ooth hatch. after a day or two I've amassed around 40 nymphs give or take. I'm not sure what the survival ratio typically is, but I am pretty confident I have far too many on my hands. Any suggestions? I know they can't be released with seasonal weather conditions, so I think they need to be given away. I don't know about shipping but if anyone happens to see this who lives near Eugene, Oregon I'd love it if someone took a few off my hands free of charge.

 

[crabbypatty]

@AltarMantis What kind of mantids are they? I've read that some people leave them together long enough for them to start eating each other, supposedly it leaves you with the stronger mantids, survival of the fittest and what not.

 

[AltarMantis]

Californian variety supposedly. I'll have to look and see what the true name is... I am a bit reluctant to ship them via post for a few reasons but I don't think I could handle the full population currently. I'm very busy right now so the labor of shipping may be too much a hassle (don't want to dash anyone's hopes). Still they are only in their first instar.

 

[spider_creations]

If you do ship I suggest using a insulated shipping box with a few heat packs. And I would take a few off you hands (I am in Arizona)

 

[CosbyArt]

@crabbypatty @AltarMantis The species if I remember correctly is the California mantis (Stagmomantis californica); although, I have posted to several other threads too.

Suggestions on what to do with the nymphs, how to ship them, and such is fine for the topic and acceptable. However any posts about buying/trading/arrangements for mantids must be handled in a PM (private message) or in the only forum section where it is allowed, the classified section.

A warning though, shipping mantids from a US member to any other country is against the forum rules (and the US Customs/USDA/other agencies as well). So is a non-US member requesting mantids from a US member. All such activity is against the forum rules (see the rules on the top of the classified section) and action will be taken as needed. I have removed such comments already, but further posts will result in a official warning and locking this topic if needed.

 

[AltarMantis]

Thanks for letting me know, Seems like a really upstanding forum community. I really should have been more clear in the intial post when I said I didn't know about shipping. I meant that as a last ditch effort, which would be more time and work intensive than I have mental faculties or time for currently. In the future if I were to get trading requests (which would be most likely random, since I don't intend on breaking forum rules) is there a way I should manually purge them from my thread?

 

[CosbyArt]

Thanks for letting me know, Seems like a really upstanding forum community. I really should have been more clear in the intial post when I said I didn't know about shipping. I meant that as a last ditch effort, which would be more time and work intensive than I have mental faculties or time for currently. In the future if I were to get trading requests (which would be most likely random, since I don't intend on breaking forum rules) is there a way I should manually purge them from my thread?

No problem, and the last paragraph was for any over anxious members and not yourself.

If you are wanting to sell/trade/give away mantids you will have to make a post in the classified section, and members send PM (private messages) to respond as the topics are locked. If members make posts in other threads it is up to us moderators to remove and handle such issues (as no one else has privileges to do so). You can however report posts to bring to our attention, by clicking the Report Post link besides the posts time line that reads something like Posted 2 hours ago  Report Post.

 

[AltarMantis]

Thanks! some day I think I'd love to breed and sell mantids. this forum is very encouraging keep up the good work!

 

[CosbyArt]

Thanks! some day I think I'd love to breed and sell mantids. this forum is very encouraging keep up the good work!

Your welcome, and that day will come sooner than you think.

Many new members seem to collect mantid species, so they are often browsing the mantid breeder sites, and posting in the classifieds within a month or two. For me I waited until my first mantid died before getting into new mantids, and really starting off in the hobby. As far as collecting species I've seen someone post the Pokemon tagline about their habit, saying they had to catch them all.