Praying mantis

RE: Praying mantis

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 11:28:56 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]

How on earth does one care for a Mantis? Even a tarantula seems less exotic. I think that I'd like one though just for interest? I guess that one doesn't one bond to an insect as a pet? How do you feed them? Catch flies and put them in the vivarium of hand-feed? I have no idea! [ Clearly!!]

[/quote]

They are finicky creatures but I had one keeper who swore mantids were affectionate and demonstrated moods and emotions! Some are absolutely stunning creatures and make a beautiful display.

Most people will tong feed them with commerically sold insects (locusts, crickets, mealworms etc) or put food in and watch them hunt it.

There are lots of very detailed websites with care sheets, and entire books dedicated to mantis care but they aren't the low maintenance pet people assume - they need daily monitoring and spraying and even minor variations mess up their moult resulting in a dead mantis. See http://bugsincyberspace.com/mantid_care.html as a starting point.

I'd suggest starting off with one of the stick insect species as a more bombproof option! Though you may end up with a surplus of them pretty quickly (especially the common Indian stick insects)!

I keep millipedes as cleaners for tanks and find them surprisingly rewarding for such a small and inoffensive beast. They live in the substrate of the reptile tanks and keep them clean, eat up the kitchen leftovers, are active day and night and will tolerate handling even by my 4 year old. Not sure I would say I have bonded to them though, more like a farmer who is fond of their stock!

Marie

RE: Praying mantis

janine redman — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 11:25:19 GMT

Owned by a very enthusiastic teenager with autistic tendencies who is very bonded to these insects. Usually fed live gut loaded locusts but since it had a bout of vomiting he is catching and feeding flies. Have to admit I am not an exotics specialit’s but do have an interest in reptiles and chelonians

RE: Praying mantis

Julian Earl — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 11:07:26 GMT

RE: Praying mantis

Marie Kubiak — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 09:26:56 GMT

Have they just overfed it?

What colour/consistency of vomit? Generally not great news for a mantis as treatment options are very limited. Cytology on the vomit may help clarify if fungal or bacterial in origin.

Separate it off into a hospital enclosure (usually just a clean tank with no organic substrate) at 22-25C and maintain humidity at 60% by spraying enclosure (not directly spraying the mantis). Paper towels as substrate are good as they can be kept clean and hold a little water.

If clear bacterial cause then try and classify this, even if just Gram +ve/-ve and rods vs cocci as antibiotic dosing is not well established and some basis is needed to select an antibiotic with no useful background data!

If no clear target to treat then get the owner to syringe/pipette a probiotic mixture made up with water than has been treated/distilled to remove additives (or bottled spring water/equivalent). This can be mixed with honey to enhance palatability and the honey constituents may add to GI support. A colleague of mine has done some preliminary research into GI bacterial flora of invertebrates and there doesn't seem to be a typical biome so I would opt for a reptile/bird product first and cat/dog probiotic if no other option.

Marie