Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Jack]

wow that last one is so cool
_________________
jack
http://z3.invisionfree.com/snakechat/index.php

[garysumpter]

Is there a Mantid that is generally the best to start with? Ive thought about one for a while but havent done any research eyt, just looking things over

Cheers

Gary
_________________
Need a website? 8 years experience, GREAT rates for reptile keepers, currently designing several reptile websites. Also graphic design, hosting and marketing services.

http://www.sitewonders.co.uk
gary@sitewonders.co.uk

[Bohan]

Hierodula membranacea a 100mm Asian mantis is pretty bullet proof as mantids go the males are a bit shorter but much lighter in weight.
They tend to be green but you will get the odd brown un and a yellowish orange colour too.
Females are ferocious insects.
Other Hierodula sp are fairly easy to keep as are members of the Sphodromantis genus, they are all fairly typical looking mantids, most not having any of the crests and appendages seen in the dead leaf and African devils flower mantis in my previous post.
As with most captive bred animals are fairly easy to keep provided you understand a few things about their basic husbandry.
If you need any more info or even want to get started give Rob byatt (user name) a pm on this forum as he is a particularily succesful mantid breeder/supplier of cb young
_________________
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.

[garysumpter]

Would that be either of these? - http://www.thespidershop.co.uk/insect/index.php?cPath=24&osCsid=a780615729b1545095c7025f5ab9c415

Many Thanks

Gary
_________________
Need a website? 8 years experience, GREAT rates for reptile keepers, currently designing several reptile websites. Also graphic design, hosting and marketing services.

http://www.sitewonders.co.uk
gary@sitewonders.co.uk

[Bohan]

More than likely, is all i can say
_________________
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.

[garysumpter]

Thanks
_________________
Need a website? 8 years experience, GREAT rates for reptile keepers, currently designing several reptile websites. Also graphic design, hosting and marketing services.

http://www.sitewonders.co.uk
gary@sitewonders.co.uk

[Bohan]

http://www.metamorphosis.gb.com/index_files/Page266.htm

I'd recommend Graham smith, have a look through his mantid section before you commit then give the guy a bell
_________________
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.

[garysumpter]

Thanks for the heads up.

Do you think it would be best to have a mantid on a live plant within an enclosure or are twigs / articial leaves fine?

Gary
_________________
Need a website? 8 years experience, GREAT rates for reptile keepers, currently designing several reptile websites. Also graphic design, hosting and marketing services.

http://www.sitewonders.co.uk
gary@sitewonders.co.uk

[Bohan]

I would stick to a twig, certain plants can be slippery?.
Twigs afford a better grip as do artificials, dont over crowd it and make sure whilst its a small nymph that the cage,viv? is not to big as they might not be able to locate their prey (mantids will try to go high up to the net lid and crickets will spend a lot of the time at the base) flies are a better food source but variety is the key.
Also mantids grow by ecdysis (shedding their skin) and will hang up motionless for a few days/hours depending, when the time is right they will split behind the head and pro thorax and wriggle slowly out and downwards this means the cage has to be at least 3 times the mantids length in height so as it does not buckle aginst the floor whilst the new skin is still soft. Best feed a mantis all it will eat in a sitting and dont leave any thing in during the skin shed period as crickets will kill it while it is vulnerable (soft) and flies could dislodge it. Other than that they are pretty tough.
They will need a substrate to help provide some humidity and it is better for many reasons to use tissue paper. A net lid is also best as they will also need ventilation, spraying every 2-4 days seems adequate for most species and the substrate will hold moisture between times.
If theres any thing else you want to know or are unsure about please feel free.

Cheers Gary
_________________
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p17/Bird-fly/

2.0.0 Varanus glauerti.
1.1.0 Varanus a brachyurus.
1.1.0 Chlamydosaurus kingii.
1.3.4 Lacerta vivipera.

[garysumpter]

Thaks Matey. Off to do some reading up
_________________
Need a website? 8 years experience, GREAT rates for reptile keepers, currently designing several reptile websites. Also graphic design, hosting and marketing services.

http://www.sitewonders.co.uk
gary@sitewonders.co.uk