How many raise Mantis? Suggestions for other insects to feed?

[Twitchet]

I am planning a mantis keeping area- don't want hundreds of poly cups that are difficult to open everyday- am working out a unit for mantis that I can very easily open for feeding etc but
how many of you keep them regularly?
Are they worth it- what with the housing and feeding?
Chinese mantis or something else?
I've kept many as pets but I'd like to increase the food types I offer and am curious to know how popular and attractive they are for chams, esp Parsonii
Also want to add Phyllium leaf insects too.
Many thanks for any views- Or maybe suggestions for other insects- Katydids? maybe- Iam in the U.K so can't go Katydid hunting but they are available at exorbitant prices here.

 

[Andee]

Leaf insects of any species definitely aren't the easiest species of insect of the leaf/stick variety to raise. Depending on the species you get they will only eat eucalyptus reliably and then they aren't very safe to feed off. The best way to raise young leaf insects is to find fresh made leaves of the species of plant food you are feeding off and then cutting off the edges to make it more appetizing for the younger nymphs. Most mantids cannot successfully be kept together in colonies. There are only a few that can be kept together in smaller colonies in larger cages, the only species easily found commercial from what I've noticed is the violin mantids. Freshly hatched mantids eat fruit flies easily, young crickets and larger flies are good for older mantids, they sometimes will eat faster moving and smaller species of roaches.

 

[Twitchet]

Hi Andee- Yes I've certainly kept many a species of mantis and stick insect- I have an orchid at the moment- she is beautiful, I've had chinese and rhombodera , My plan for the mantis was individual cages- My idea is rows and rows of individual enclosures with a very easy opening for feeding and spraying etc, My master plan is about 50 or so, so I can feed off various ages-
That is if the general opinion is the extra effort of keeping animals individually and feeding them flies etc is worth it IF the chameleon gets a lot of enjoyment from them, nutritionally I'm not after so much- just food enrichment for mental stimulation really, especially ( not that I have found that yet) if parsons get bored with certain foods I thought it might be nice to offer others, maybe general opinion will say just stick to the normal foods?
I'm raising indian sticks now and they are one of the parsons favourite foods, almost 100% of the time she will take them, I think I might try the leaf insects- they have been started on bramble- my reptile shed should be suitably warm and humid for them, worth a go I suppose. I would imagine they'd be a big hit. Just looking to diversify a bit really.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Andee]

I absolutely love leaf insects the only problems they usually have is they can have a lot of issues with molting as they get older, so more humidity is always welcome. I also recommend keeping them in a screen or some type of combo cage because of their need for air flow. As far as stimulation I find it easier to get entertainment for eating with flying things and not so much mantids. Compared to the work you put into the mantids themselves. But I don't have any members of the giant species so I don't know how hard it is to find a flying insects they are interested in? I do agree though stick insects are usually a favorite among my little one. Idk honestly, I love raising mantids but I don't know if I could spend tons of time on 50 or so of them just to feed them off.

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

I kept mantis for a while. What I have learned is that they very easily develop crooked legs and oddly shaped bodies when they do not have enough space to keep their bodies in a comfortable normal position when they shed of their old skin. At first the new skin is soft and if they are contorted in odd positions due to space constraints they will become contorted. Once they get more than a inch and a half long, I find they do much better in biger cages. Hope this helps.

 

[Twitchet]

I wish I could raise moths, maybe if I have more luck with my silkworms i'd let them turn to moths, I'd like to raise something like hornworms- not legal here- but another type of large larva.
Usually the housing is 3 times the length of the mantis ,touch wood all mine chose the roof of the cage to shed and grew out nice and straight, fascinating to watch- then look back in a few hours and they had grown.
I tried banana roaches but found they were too clever at escaping so gave them up.
I'm planning on orange heads again- no luck with the last batch- the female loved the winged males- mmm crispy!
Thanks all- good to get an overview of what people have tried or had success with.

 

[Andee]

You could do wax worm moths? But they aren't huge generally and don't know how a giant species would do with them. There is also the possibility of raising cabbage whites in captivity. Though I know a lot of countries view them as pests and don't allow it, where I live can only raise them in generally small amounts usually. Though for feeder purposes idk if that matters much. But cabbage whites you can feed off the catepillar from what I understand and the butterfly.

 

[ponders]

I would say yes, they enjoy them. But, it is short lived. Takes months to get that big, but if you like mantids, it's worth it.

 

[Extensionofgreen]

I don't think raising mantises is a practical endeavor. Perhaps, ordering oothes and placing them around your yard, come Spring would be ok, but they require a ton of effort to get to size.
You have access to locusts, which are excellent feeders! We cannot raise locusts as easily in the states.
Among my parsons favorites were moths, butterflies, and cicadas. The did love mantises, locust, and katydids as well. Honestly, they favor what is most difficult to acquire! Surprise!

 

[Twitchet]

That's great info everyone, really given me food for thought, pardon the pun,
Andee my Phelsuma love cabbage white butterflies but I thought I had read that the caterpillars obtain some chemical from brassicas to make them taste absolutely foul, I have tried to feed to our ducks and hens and they won't touch them, certainly butterflies are a good one , I buy waxworms every order and let them turn to moths, you are right,they do love them, especially the xanth. It's great to see.

Hey Drew, yes they will choose the most difficult that's for sure, we are lucky to get locusts here, they like the winged adults, so I see your point, so lots of work but lots of fun too- for them not me.

And ponders that is such an amazing photo, best I've seen, please please enter for photo competition!!!!

 

[Matt Vanilla Gorilla]

The funny thing about raising the mantis was the fact that it nearly took as much food to raise them to adulthood than it would to raise a chameleon for the same amount of time! Lol. From that perspective they are an expensive feeder to breed!

 

[Andee]

Idk I think it depends on the species of cabbage white you get and what kind of plant you use to feed them. They definitely prefer types of cabage plants but i think the Lesser White? is supposed to take to kale?