SSimsswiSS
Avid Member
Here's a small taste. This one Gave me a real scare, but amazed I caught it on video. More to follow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etjvcwYH9JE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etjvcwYH9JE
1st mantis hatch out of year
- Thread starter SSimsswiSS
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Dave Weldon
Avid Member
Howdy Steve,
If you listen really close to the video you can hear him saying: "Hey guys, watch me freak-out our keeper."
summoner12
Avid Member
Howdy Steve,
If you listen really close to the video you can hear him saying: "Hey guys, watch me freak-out our keeper."
LOL!
I was hearing 'Darn I missed.... oh my tongue! hehe just kidding!
now for the real shot!'
ponders
Chameleon Enthusiast
I heard "whoops" then "num, num, num, num, num" LOL
Yesterday I was checking out my ponds and found an adult mantid that survived winter floating in the water. Looked like he had just molted and then fell in the water and got his wings all wet. So...of course his wings were ruined and I had hungry chams. My panthers looked at it and decided it was too soggy, but the fischers gobbled him up Dangerous to live in my backyard.
Yesterday I was checking out my ponds and found an adult mantid that survived winter floating in the water. Looked like he had just molted and then fell in the water and got his wings all wet. So...of course his wings were ruined and I had hungry chams. My panthers looked at it and decided it was too soggy, but the fischers gobbled him up
Dangerous to live in my backyard.
SSimsswiSS
Avid Member
You get all the cool stuff in your backyard! I think the insects avoid mine. With all this rain so far for the year, should see more though. Can't wait till the painted ladys make their way up from Mexico.Yesterday I was checking out my ponds and found an adult mantid that survived winter floating in the water. Looked like he had just molted and then fell in the water and got his wings all wet. So...of course his wings were ruined and I had hungry chams. My panthers looked at it and decided it was too soggy, but the fischers gobbled him up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb5xjAS18nI
Picture of feeding the food that gets fed.
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drewtt
New Member
Alot, I'd have to say 100+ on ice. I raise them to adult size, to feed to my larger chameleons. It takes alot of work and time to get them big, for a two second snack.
I'm no mantid guy, and I assume there is a lot of growth variations among species, but in general, how long does it take from hatching to adult/feeding size? Is it generally weeks, or months?
Thanks,
Drew
Texas Panther Man
New Member
I dont know where swiss gets em from but i've seen the cases online. Google mantis and you should find some.
CNorton
Avid Member
Time to get in touch with your local nurseries guys!! Just ask them and they will know where to direct you if they don't have a bunch of oothecas themselves. Mantis are beneficial insects that help gardeners out by eating aphids and other unwanted insects. (ooths are egg cases)
Also, for those hoping to hatch and raise mantis...look here!
Also, for those hoping to hatch and raise mantis...look here!
Lizardlover
New Member
they only live for 6-8 months typically, so do the math. max wait would be 4 months.
Texas Panther Man
New Member
These look like a great feeder for neonates up to 2 months. Or smaller species of chams. But seem to be alot of work to raise to adulthood for adult chameleons. I would like to try them but im going to start w/dubias first.
chachilla
Established Member
I see mantis eggs/pods at my local green thumb, but i never paid any attention to them. For some reason i thought mantises would not make a safe feeder because of the barbs on the front arms? It doesn't seem to be a problem for the little panthers to gobble them up in the provided videos (well except for one guy who's tongue did some crazy things). Id like to try and feed some mantises to my panther as well now that i see how cool it looks, plus it would add some more variety to his diet. Are these a staple for baby panthers or are they more of a treat and how does one go about feeding/gut loading a mantis for a panther. Maybe some one would be so kind to share their experience with mantises and how to house them as a feeder. thanks
CNorton
Avid Member
Maybe you didn't see this post a page back...
For baby chams, they are an excellent feeder to aid in the massive food requirements needed. I don't think anyone will tell you they feed only mantis in the first 2 months of a cham's life.
As for how to gutload a mantis...they will eat anything that can provoke a feeding response. This means they need something that moves! So try fruit flies in the beginning because they are easier to provide. Then move to crickets, flies, nymph roaches, and others. Some sources say they will actually eat some fruits. I did see one mantis eating just a little bit of banana one time. I did try to feed snails and silkworms but had no luck because they don't move enough.
This thread has a lot of good information as well as Mantis Place which sells mantis and some good feeders.
I hope this helps!
SSimsswiSS
Avid Member
Not a staple. Variety is always best. I find that if I can rotate many different prey items, I get better feeding reponse and in turn, get better baby grow rates. After dining on other insects for a few days, you should see how exciting a week old cricket looks to a baby panther. The eyes, legs, tail, and tongue, all working in rapid synchronization.
You have a Insect supplier nearby too, if your in Ventura. Rincon-Vitova Insectaries sells many beneficial insects to farms and gardeners.
I do offer banana, and apple slices. They do seems to eat fruit, if only for the moisture content.
E-bay can be a good place to look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwo829Z25-M
buddhacham
New Member
Has anyone tried feeding the mantis hatchlings springtails instead of ff?
If so just wondering how they accomplished this?
If so just wondering how they accomplished this?
SSimsswiSS
Avid Member
I don't think springtails would work to good. Mantis tend to climb to the top of things and wait for a meal to come by. Not near the ground. But I'm sure it can be done.
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SSimsswiSS
Avid Member
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