- Joined
- Apr 24, 2006
- Messages
- 134
I saw some pictures of violin mantises and they look amazing. I'm thinking about picking one up, but I did some homework on them and there is one aspect of husbandry that worries me.
According to a caresheet I found, Violin Mantises can only eat flying insects.
Here's a quote:
"You will find they will not take greatly to ground dwelling insects, such as crickets, locusts or worms. Not only will they not take to them, but feeding them can cause chemical reactions when producing ootheca, where no foam will be produced. Insects such as house flies, bees, dragon flies, damsel flies, moths and butterflies are all good examples of food to feed the Gongylus."
http://www.insectstore.com/gongylus.php
I can't think of a way to get a reliable supply of flying feeder insects. I'm not going to try to catch wild insects, because I don't really have time for that, in the winter there are none to be found and who knows where they have been and what they have been eating?
No stores around me sell flying feeders, I've never even heard of that.
My first thought was to tie a thread on a roach and dangle it, but what is the caresheet talking about with chemical reactions?
Does anyone here keep violin mantises? What do you feed them? Thanks!
According to a caresheet I found, Violin Mantises can only eat flying insects.
Here's a quote:
"You will find they will not take greatly to ground dwelling insects, such as crickets, locusts or worms. Not only will they not take to them, but feeding them can cause chemical reactions when producing ootheca, where no foam will be produced. Insects such as house flies, bees, dragon flies, damsel flies, moths and butterflies are all good examples of food to feed the Gongylus."
http://www.insectstore.com/gongylus.php
I can't think of a way to get a reliable supply of flying feeder insects. I'm not going to try to catch wild insects, because I don't really have time for that, in the winter there are none to be found and who knows where they have been and what they have been eating?
No stores around me sell flying feeders, I've never even heard of that.
My first thought was to tie a thread on a roach and dangle it, but what is the caresheet talking about with chemical reactions?
Does anyone here keep violin mantises? What do you feed them? Thanks!