Praying mantis/mantids for
sale and exchange
Live insects and praying mantis/mantids for sale and exchange
Praying mantids are one of the most interesting,
and stealy of all insects available to keep in captivity.
And luckily, they are not all that hard to keep as
pets.
There are many places online where you can purchase
live praying mantids, such as www.insectstore.com,
and www.mantidforum.com. However, when purchasing
a praying mantis, you must ensure that you are purchasing
the correct speicies for you. Species such as the
Creobroter species (Indian flower mantis), Pseudocreobotra
wahlbergii (Spiny flower mantis), and Phyllocrania
paraodxa (Ghost mantis) are all great species for
beginners to keep. Not only are they easy to keep,
and require low humidities and temperatures, but they
are beautiful looking as well. If you are looking
for a species that is slightly more advanced, then
you can try something like the Gongylus gongyloides
(Violin/Indian flower mantis), Idolomantis diabolica
(Devils flower mantis), or Hymenopus coronatus (Orchid
mantis).
The reason these speices are slightly harder to keep,
is because they require much warmer temperatures, and higher
humidity. However, even though they do require these, it
can be easy to provide. Temperatures can be given with a
heat mat or a heat lamp, and humidity can be given by simply
spraying. Substrate can be used to maintain humidity, and
also to look appealing. Twigs and leaves can be provided
to for the mantis to climb on, and again to look attractive.
It doesn't really matter which you use, however it is safest
either to use branches or leaves off fruit trees, or using
false pieces.