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Idolomantis Diabolica 8-1-15


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#1 Offline Zeiss - Posted August 1 2015 - 7:25 AM

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I have recently gotten an L2 Idolomantis Diabolica along with another one and 2 orchid mantids coming tuesday.  Anywho, I don't see many mantids on the off-topics so I thought why not post about em.  I'll just be showing its current set up and itself.  I am pretty excited I got these because they're one of the largest mantis species and a challenge to keep.  My heat source for it as of now is my snake cage since I am trying to figure out a heating mat's highest temp currently along with a heating light.  

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I ended up doubling the mesh on the lid and side so it would'nt have a problem gripping them since these guys can't climb things as easily as other mantids.  The cotton ball is a feeding hole; I did not want to stress the guy out a bunch using the lid all the time.  All the sticks are essential for the mantis to have less of a chance of having a mismolt.  


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#2 Offline Bardusquus - Posted August 8 2015 - 1:42 AM

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Orchid mantises are beautiful, where did you buy them?


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#3 Offline William. T - Posted August 8 2015 - 8:25 AM

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You can buy Orchids at Mantis pets, but they are out of stock many times. Beautiful animals, sucks that they only live for a year.


Species I keep:

 

1 Lasius cf. Neoniger 30 workers

1 Camponotus sp. 15 workers

20 Tetramorium SpE 30 workers

1 T. Sessile 200 workers

 


#4 Offline Bardusquus - Posted August 8 2015 - 9:26 PM

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You can buy Orchids at Mantis pets, but they are out of stock many times. Beautiful animals, sucks that they only live for a year.

Thanks!



#5 Offline antsinmypants - Posted August 9 2015 - 11:15 AM

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I had an exotic mantis once. Pretty, pink, spiky critter it was until it died, like all my other pets. I think it's head came off. If it wasn't for these ants, then I'd like to purchase a pair of breeding violin mantids. Ants, however, are infinitely more interesting to observe and more of challenge to raise. Anting is like fishing or hunting. It's a sport with a built-in adrenaline rush upon capturing that elusive queen. While watching them multiple is worse than watching grass grow, it piques the curiosity like nothing else of those you share your interest with. Ant behavior is complex but isn't life in general? Sometimes they are amazingly smart, other times so incredibly stupid. I suppose they need the collective intelligence of many heads to make decisions because their heads are so small to begin with. For now, I'll stick with ants, even if that means more ants in my pants!



#6 Offline William. T - Posted August 9 2015 - 2:49 PM

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Sigh...... If they lived a little longer..... I wish mantids were't annual.


Species I keep:

 

1 Lasius cf. Neoniger 30 workers

1 Camponotus sp. 15 workers

20 Tetramorium SpE 30 workers

1 T. Sessile 200 workers

 


#7 Offline Zeiss - Posted August 11 2015 - 3:20 AM

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Orchid mantises are beautiful, where did you buy them?

I got mine from bugsincyberspace.com.  But they ran out pretty quickly and I have no idea when he'd get some more.



#8 Offline William. T - Posted August 11 2015 - 4:18 AM

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They are really expensive. I used to keep a ghost mantis, but he lasted a year and that was it. That's why I moved on to phids, or jumping spiders.


Edited by William. T, August 11 2015 - 4:18 AM.

Species I keep:

 

1 Lasius cf. Neoniger 30 workers

1 Camponotus sp. 15 workers

20 Tetramorium SpE 30 workers

1 T. Sessile 200 workers

 





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