Lee Slikkers
Well-known member
As promised here are a few pictures and brief descriptions of the housing I am currently using for my mantids.
All the housing pictured are acrylic boxes that I purchased at Hobby Lobby…they had numerous sizes (until I cleaned them out, hopefully they will restock soon.)
For my L1-L2 Ghost nymph housing (multiple nymphs until they are slightly larger) I am using a 3 ½ x 3 ½ x 4”h box.
For ventilation used my Dremel tool and a plunge router type bit and cut a square out of the top leaving a 3/8” rim to adhere the screen too.
Too keep the FF’s from escaping I hot-glued 2 layers of aluminum screen, one laying square the other diagonal, for a cross-hatching to reduced the screen opening size.
I used a foam bottom for moisture retention over the traditional sphagnum (less places for FF’s to hide)
For my L4-L5 Texas Unicorn housing I am using a 2” x 2” x 3 ½”h box
For ventilation I have drilled numerous holes in the top.
Too keep the FF’s from escaping I hot-glued 2 layers of aluminum screen, one laying square the other diagonal, for a cross-hatching to reduced the screen opening size.
I used a foam bottom for moisture retention over the traditional sphagnum (less places for FF’s to hide)
On this size housing I also added small strips of screen running vertical on 2 of the four sides of the house…this gives the nymph (as well as the FF’s) something to climb.
For my L6-L7 Chinese mantids (Wild Caught) I am using a 3 ½” x 3 ½” x 6” box
For ventilation I used my Dremel tool and a plunge router type bit and cut a square out of the top leaving a 3/8” rim to adhere the screen too.
I have only used a single layer aluminum screen on this size house for better ventilation and because food items are too large to escape through a single layer.
I also have used foam on the bottom for moisture retention purposes. I have also added 1 strip of aluminum screen running vertical down the side of the house for climbing of the mantis and food items.
There are a few reasons I have selected these boxes and methods:
1) They have a very professional look to them and are extremely clear which gives me much more viewing pleasure as opposed to the cups where the mantis often hang on the more opaque undersides making viewing difficult.
2) They have a stable square bottom and are less prone to tipping or falling over thus reducing the possibility of damage to a mantis, especially while molting.
3) They are fairly cost effective. They clean up easily for repeat use.
4) And probably the biggest reason is that the tops are 1/3 of the boxes height so when adding food items or cleaning you simply wait until your mantis is hanging from the screen on the top (which they usually are) and you simply lift the top off and set onto a flat surface. The mantis stays enclosed and you can go about your feeding, misting or cleaning of the housing.
I am sure I will still be searching for improvements and the Ultimate Mantis House but for right now I am fairly pleased with this current setup.
Regards,
Lee
All the housing pictured are acrylic boxes that I purchased at Hobby Lobby…they had numerous sizes (until I cleaned them out, hopefully they will restock soon.)
For my L1-L2 Ghost nymph housing (multiple nymphs until they are slightly larger) I am using a 3 ½ x 3 ½ x 4”h box.
For ventilation used my Dremel tool and a plunge router type bit and cut a square out of the top leaving a 3/8” rim to adhere the screen too.
Too keep the FF’s from escaping I hot-glued 2 layers of aluminum screen, one laying square the other diagonal, for a cross-hatching to reduced the screen opening size.
I used a foam bottom for moisture retention over the traditional sphagnum (less places for FF’s to hide)
For my L4-L5 Texas Unicorn housing I am using a 2” x 2” x 3 ½”h box
For ventilation I have drilled numerous holes in the top.
Too keep the FF’s from escaping I hot-glued 2 layers of aluminum screen, one laying square the other diagonal, for a cross-hatching to reduced the screen opening size.
I used a foam bottom for moisture retention over the traditional sphagnum (less places for FF’s to hide)
On this size housing I also added small strips of screen running vertical on 2 of the four sides of the house…this gives the nymph (as well as the FF’s) something to climb.
For my L6-L7 Chinese mantids (Wild Caught) I am using a 3 ½” x 3 ½” x 6” box
For ventilation I used my Dremel tool and a plunge router type bit and cut a square out of the top leaving a 3/8” rim to adhere the screen too.
I have only used a single layer aluminum screen on this size house for better ventilation and because food items are too large to escape through a single layer.
I also have used foam on the bottom for moisture retention purposes. I have also added 1 strip of aluminum screen running vertical down the side of the house for climbing of the mantis and food items.
There are a few reasons I have selected these boxes and methods:
1) They have a very professional look to them and are extremely clear which gives me much more viewing pleasure as opposed to the cups where the mantis often hang on the more opaque undersides making viewing difficult.
2) They have a stable square bottom and are less prone to tipping or falling over thus reducing the possibility of damage to a mantis, especially while molting.
3) They are fairly cost effective. They clean up easily for repeat use.
4) And probably the biggest reason is that the tops are 1/3 of the boxes height so when adding food items or cleaning you simply wait until your mantis is hanging from the screen on the top (which they usually are) and you simply lift the top off and set onto a flat surface. The mantis stays enclosed and you can go about your feeding, misting or cleaning of the housing.
I am sure I will still be searching for improvements and the Ultimate Mantis House but for right now I am fairly pleased with this current setup.
Regards,
Lee
could i suggest putting a couple of sticks in each box as mantids like hanging and climing from loads of different angles and directions 
