Bug buy not for the skeered,lol..

[Bob 1000]

Today I ordered my Orchid Mantis(Hymenopus Coronatus).. This is a insect that I have seen on the discovery channel a lot of times, and now I'm taking the plunge.. They aren't that expensive around $33 and $25 express shipping... The cost will be less if we get enough people.. They only require a a 32oz. cup at max size to be kept in.. They grow up 2in.. They reminded me of my Harlequin shrimp.. They are okay to be handled... There food can be kept in the same tank/cup.. They eat fruit flies right now...
The name of the Place I'm getting it from is called mantisplace.com
Check it out an let me know if you guys and girls would like another hobby so you can keep you hands out of your tanks for a second,,lol..

More info to come soon.. This is what they look like... Very low maintenance compared to our tanks...

I will be keeping mine in a 10 gallon tank with extra food for it to have access to, maybe even a 20 gallon....

 

[autoponicz]

wow...that mantis is cool looking...where are they from(origin)

 

[noodleman]

is their website not working? can't seem to access it

 

[finksmart]

It's actually http://www.mantisplace.com

 

[jhale]

Bob I looked at the site, dom sent it to me.

I love the bugs but they require 85 degrees and 75% humidity.
Any ideas on how to accomplish that in the winter?

 

[Bob 1000]

Noodleman mantisplace.com sorry about that..

Jhale.. I sent it to Dom,,,,Heat lamp, heat rock... I spoke with the woman from there and it doesn't require that high all the time that is the max temp and the low is 75..
And they can be kept in a 10 gallon tank they just need to have ample food as they just wait for food to pass by..

 

[DontXtripNfall]

How long do they live for?

 

[Deanos]

:wow: I kept praying mantises as a kid...one of my first fascinations with nature

 

[Domboski]

Bob I looked at the site, dom sent it to me.

I love the bugs but they require 85 degrees and 75% humidity.
Any ideas on how to accomplish that in the winter?

Those params are pretty standard for many tropical frogs and reptiles. There are so many tools available to mainatin the proper environment it has become rather easy. Just like a reef tank, you can buy controllers that manage your entire system.

BTW, I still can't get over how beautiful that mantis is. CBB too!

 

[jejton]

You'll be feeding them mostly fruit flies ( and possibly pinhead crickets if you have a big mantis ) so make sure you are up for culturing them ( fruit flies are available as flightless mutants ).

 

[Bob 1000]

:wow: I kept praying mantises as a kid...one of my first fascinations with nature

I always saw them as a child then I stopped seeing them for years and just this year I saw one... Wish I'd caught it and kept it didn't know they were that easy..

 

[Bob 1000]

You'll be feeding them mostly fruit flies ( and possibly pinhead crickets if you have a big mantis ) so make sure you are up for culturing them ( fruit flies are available as flightless mutants ).

Yes, I will be culturing fruit flies also..

 

[Domboski]

You can buy fruit flies from Petco cheap. No big deal. I'd also leave the mantis' you find around here alone. They are protected You can buy a 100 Orchid Mantis' with the money you'll save when you don't get fined

 

[Bob 1000]

Wow I knew they were protected but didn't know they actually enforced it,, sort of like J walking whatever that is,,lol.. They also grow a lot bigger than these mantis on that site..

 

[Domboski]

Wow I knew they were protected but didn't know they actually enforced it,, sort of like J walking whatever that is,,lol.. They also grow a lot bigger than these mantis on that site..

They have to catch you first :theyareon

 

[jhale]

I'd turn Bob in

:theyareon

 

[DEL]

orchid mantis

i remember catching the green praying mantis' when i was younger!! *sigh* memories!! me and my friends loved that lil guy!! then he disappeared after a few days..

 

[Bob 1000]

I'd turn Bob in

:theyareon

You'd have to come take pictures first,,lol..

 

[noelskii]

caught 2 big ones (the regular green ones) in canada, brought them here. they :bunnies: and voila... those little things got through the mesh cover i had over the 10 gal tank and watched them crawl all over my laundry room walls......

 

[Bob 1000]

Nice, I wonder if they found food in the laundry room...