r/mantids • • Jan 07 '20

Enclosure Advice PSA: Exo-terras, metal mesh and your mantises toes! (and some advice on how to DIY an affordable enclosure)

414 Upvotes

I was asked to make this post in another thread - so here I am. Here's a PSA on what metal mesh does to your mantises feet, and why it should be avoided!

This is a raptorial arm, (the front, grasping arms) but the segment we're interested in is the same on all of their legs. The little portion labelled "Tarsus" is what we're looking at here. You can see that it ends in a set of hooks - often (somewhat confusingly) called "Claws" - these tarsal claws are what give your mantis the ability to walk upside down on surfaces that appear quite smooth to us, and why it feels kind of spiky when a large mantis walks on your skin. They're essential for your mantis to move around, and most importantly moult properly! Differences in the morphology of this structure also give some mantises the ability to walk on glass, whilst others can't.

If you go and look at one of your mantises feet, you will likely be able to see the little hooks now you know what you're looking for. Now the problem is that some tank setups that are commonly recommended damage these hooks, which results in mantises having trouble moving around, and falling whilst they moult.

Exo-terra tanks are very commonly used because a lot of us have other inverts or exotic pets and have spares lying around, or they're sold to us at petstores. They make nice display tanks and are easy to clean. However - the mesh at the top of exo-terra tanks is made of very fine metal, and the holes themselves are very small. This is essentially like you trying to hang by your toes from chickenwire, eventually your toes are going to be pretty damaged, or come off altogether! If you must use an exo-terra, it's essential that the mesh is changed to stop this from occurring. Plastic tulle mesh is easily available and works as an excellent substitute.

There is also a multitude of DIY options available, which I will detail bellow:

Basic requirements for all enclosures:

  • All mantis enclosures must be at least three times the length of the mantis (Don't get fooled by the abdomen curling up, you still need to account for it) and two times the width.
  • There must be something for the mantis to hang securely from at the top of the tank - They will spend 99% of their time at the highest point, and will often moult from it.
  • Substrate - options for suitable substrate are numerous, you can use simple tissue paper, cocoa coir, vermiculite, perlite etc. The object is to hold some moisture and make it easy for you to clean. Cheap and cheerful is the way to go, unless you're making a planted display tank or something like that.
  • The less decoration the better. Decoration is more for our benefit than theirs; before you add something decorative to a tank, consider your reasons for adding it. Practicality should always take precedent over a tank looking nice!
  • Ventilation - ventilation is important for hygiene reasons.

​

Nymphs

  • Cups

The absolute single best enclosure for a nymph of any species, is simply a plastic deli cup with the lid cut out to accommodate some plastic mesh, and a single twig placed diagonally. Alternately, you can just use an elastic band to hold the mesh on. For feeding, simply cut a hole in the side and stuff it with some sponge to stop live food or your mantis escaping, you can pooter in the food. (if you don't have a pooter you should get one, especially if dealing with fruitflies, they're also very easy to DIY)

​

  • Cricket/livefood tubs

The tubs that livefood is commonly sold in make excellent tanks with some modification, especially for larger nymphs, and even small adults. The more rigid ones are the best, as they're easily cut to allow the insertion of mesh, and can be stood up tall-ways. The entire lid can be cut out and replaced with mesh, which provides excellent ventilation, and is nice for the mantis to move around on.

Adults

  • Plastic penny sweet jars (Sorry Americans I have no idea what these would be called in your country)
  • Tupperware/food containers
  • Storage containers

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All can be modified in the same ways as above. I will either append this post, or make an additional post, detailing how to make a suitable enclosure using the items above with pictures in future.

These enclosures are all very cheap to construct, and even the most DIY averse person can make the modifications necessary to turn them into good enclosures. They also have the benefit of being mostly recycled items a lot of us will already possess.

Another benefit to using tanks mostly constructed of mesh is that it prevents mantises from developing "eye-rub" - this is damage to their eyes from repeatedly trying to walk through clear plastic or glass - it looks like large black spots on the eyes, distinct from the pseudo-pupils - which can in cases turn necrotic and is quite a nasty way for your mantis to die.

I hope this post was helpful and informative, and please don't hesitate to ask any questions or add to the knowledge given here if you have any other tips or advice.

References: https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/12542/


r/mantids • • Sep 28 '22

ID Help A Quick Reference Guide to Wild Praying Mantises of the United States

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62 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 2h ago

Announcement HE MOLTED

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23 Upvotes

everyone say good job


r/mantids • • 6h ago

Image/Video Mantis photoshoot 📸

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4 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 7h ago

Preservation Found this little bro outside. How to pin? NSFW

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5 Upvotes

I found this guy today. Super sad they died like this, probably stepped on by another highschooler. This is my first mantis pin, so I have a few questions. Should I stuff their abdomen due to the damage, and how do I repair the damage? Also, what species are they? Found in southeastern PA.


r/mantids • • 39m ago

Other Emergency insect move

• Upvotes

I have to move my mantises, jumping spiders, and isopods to my mom’s house while an infestation is being taken care of at this house.
She pours clorox into the ac pipe every month and says it only smells like bleach immediately when she pours it. If she was able to hold off on doing that for two months (the longest amount of time i’m thinking this might take) would they be safe to stay over there?

Last time she poured it was last Sunday and I need to move my bugs by this weekend. She says the smell isn’t there anymore


r/mantids • • 21h ago

Image/Video RIP to my first ever Mantid Ninja😭

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42 Upvotes

I came home and found her at the bottom 😩😩😩

I mean I already knew the life span is short because when I found her , she had wings aka adult life but damn

You’ve left an imprint on me . I didn’t know how cool mantis were until I had you 😔


r/mantids • • 13h ago

Feeding Keeping exotic mantids is illegal in my country, so here's my local mantis (Tenodera sinensis)

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6 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 7h ago

Image/Video Our hierodula membranacea starting with the legs of a very unfortunate Turkmenistan roach

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2 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 10h ago

Feeding Food

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3 Upvotes

Are these guys big enough to eat other bugs than wingless fruit flies? What should I try?
I tried mini mealworms they seemed interested for a little bit but then didn’t
yes I know mealworms aren’t the best but I was trying something other than flies


r/mantids • • 8h ago

ID Help Presub or Subadult?

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1 Upvotes

Deroplatys Dessicata

i7

Female

3 people including me think presub


r/mantids • • 13h ago

Feeding orchid mantis won't eat

2 Upvotes

Hi! I've had my L4/5 orchid mantis for 2 days now, her behaviour seems normal, however she has refused to eat yesterday and today. yesterday I just brushed it off as her not being hungry yet, but im concerned about her not wanting to eat today. I'm wondering why she refuses to eat at all. The temperature is at around 26C, the humidity is at 70%, she has plenty of space to hang and climb on, I've offered fruit flies, and the smallest locusts I could find. I tried putting her in a smaller container with a fruit fly first and then a locust just incase she was struggling to get to it, but still nothing. I tried to use tweezers to hold the prey in front of her but again nothing. She just ignores it and goes about her normal mantis activities.. what do I do?!!??!


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Image/Video meet Melon! my first ever mantis

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26 Upvotes

r/mantids • • 1d ago

Image/Video Haha after so long I found the mantis that gave me a bit of greave as I remembered having a small argument as a kid with a friend I should him one of this he said it's just an ant before we could ask a teacher the little one disappeared🤣

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4 Upvotes

Now finally I could get second opinions😅 sorry if it's blurry little one keeps running around it's hard for me to hold my jewelry lob on the camera og my phone using one hand


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Image/Video Visitor on my house today!

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12 Upvotes

She looks like shes in pretty bad shape. Pretty sure shes a European mantis. So cute, she looks like mine


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Artwork Would you get this mantis tattoo?

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18 Upvotes

I am a beginner tattoo artist.

I made this tattoo on fake skin.

Would you want it?


r/mantids • • 1d ago

ID Help Identification help?

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8 Upvotes

Can someone help me determine the exact species of this mantis?


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Feeding steven's feeding schedule has slowed down a LOT... is she just getting ready to lay ooth?

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11 Upvotes

last time i fed her was 10/05-- 9 days ago. and she doesnt look that much less full than she was right after feeding. she's been calling a lot over the past several weeks so i think she's just holding her ooth to mate,,, but i dont plan on pairing her (i dont have a male and im not gonna go outside and find one at the risk of stevens health) so itll def be infertile. atp im getting a little concerned about oothbinding. shes still pooping and behaving normally though. about when can i expect her to lay? is theyre anything else i can do for her? or could this be a different health issue?


r/mantids • • 1d ago

RIP ❤️ Molting/Rearing Advice?

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2 Upvotes

UPDATE!!


r/mantids • • 1d ago

General Care hunger strike?

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2 Upvotes

first time mantis owner here - my ghost mantis Tink hasn’t eaten in probably about a week now, i’m pretty sure she just molted (although i didn’t see it or find the molt) as it seemed like she kind of just grew overnight. she won’t eat literally anything i offer her, fruit flies, bluebottle flies, bluebottle larvae, mealworms, dubias - anything. is this normal for them to just reject food?


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Feeding Feeding my adult giant rainforest mantis

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3 Upvotes

Today four days after his final moult i have fed him a locust. I was also lucky enough to catch him moulting, also some advice on feeding male mantis would be appreciated


r/mantids • • 1d ago

ID Help Gender? And species?

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3 Upvotes

Found in Rockville, MD


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Image/Video My orchid mantis loves watching her thermo-hygrometer

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6 Upvotes

She spends most of her day just staring at it. It’s like a lil TV for her I guess


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Health Issues Lost tip of raptorial limbs?

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2 Upvotes

This is Alfonso, he's a Double Shield mantis, who's been an adult for about a month and a half. On Monday I discovered he was missing most of his tibia and his Tarsus on his left raptorial.

I know that since he's an adult, it won't ever regenerate. He seems to be doing fine with his remaining raptorial. I'm just at a loss for how he lost it. I fed him Sunday morning, and he had both of them then. He did however seem to have the affected limb stuck in the tulle mesh. I gently nudged it to free it, and I was very gentle and it seemed fine afterwards, he even used it to grab his food.

It's kind of eating me a bit to think I might have hurt my poor boy. Is there any possibility of something else happening? Some people have suggested he just got overzealous while he was feeding and chewed it off, but I've never heard of that happening before.

If anyone has any insight into what happened and how to prevent it from happening again, I would appreciate it. Thank you in advance.


r/mantids • • 1d ago

Health Issues Help! Not sure what’s wrong with her

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1 Upvotes

Hi I’ve had her for a month now and I came up home and she was on the ground of her enclosure. She’s not moving and her limbs are twitching. Any advice??