Handling mantids

[sooshi]

Hi there Soosh here. I keep Mantids and handle them. Here is what i know on handling and how i do it:

All mantids kind (from what i know) have their own personality, and will react differently to handling. so basically get used to the behavious of your mantis and do not be afraid to handle them. Females tend to be more feisty then males. I start with nymphs. Just get your mantis out in a way that it doesn’t get scared or bothered. If it is bothered leave them alone. If scared please close enclosure gently. This will be different for all mantids. So please go with what your mantis likes most. I try doing it with little steps:

1. Open enclosure. See if it gets scared or bothered. They will let you know once they are bothered or scared.

2. Put your hand in cage. Same again if scared or bothered just do not rush the process. see if the mantis is comfortable with your hand.

3. Gently put your hand (upside down) next to them.

4. Let them step up kn their own. Practice every day if you can. This way they will get used to handling.

Maybe feeding from the tweezers or maybe even hands. will help further improvements.
Keep in mind they can jump and mostly are pets to just are fun to watch.
Anyways, Mantis are lovely pets.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

Hi there Soosh here. I keep Mantids and handle them. Here is what i know on handling and how i do it:

All mantids kind (from what i know) have their own personality, and will react differently to handling. so basically get used to the behavious of your mantis and do not be afraid to handle them. Females tend to be more feisty then males. I start with nymphs. Just get your mantis out in a way that it doesn’t get scared or bothered. If it is bothered leave them alone. If scared please close enclosure gently. This will be different for all mantids. So please go with what your mantis likes most. I try doing it with little steps:

1. Open enclosure. See if it gets scared or bothered. They will let you know once they are bothered or scared.

2. Put your hand in cage. Same again if scared or bothered just do not rush the process. see if the mantis is comfortable with your hand.

3. Gently put your hand (upside down) next to them.

4. Let them step up kn their own. Practice every day if you can. This way they will get used to handling.

Maybe feeding from the tweezers or maybe even hands. will help further improvements.
Keep in mind they can jump and mostly are pets to just are fun to watch.
Anyways, Mantis are lovely pets.

I've been keeping mantids for about three years now, but I've only raised one or two from nymphs. I think a big determinant of mantid handleability is their upbringing, like you said. I raised a nymph to adulthood and handled him fairly frequently, and he was very friendly! However, I've taken in quite a few females I've found around my yard (right before frost begins, so they have already had a chance to mate but will likely die if they remain outside) and it's really hit-or-miss on whether or not you can hold them. I found sometimes they like to hold your finger with the sharp part of their raptorial forelimbs if they've just had a big meal to hoist themselves onto your hand, which can hurt! I have a front-opening acrylic enclosure for my current mantis, and I just leave the front open during maintenance. Sometimes my mantis wanders out onto my hand, and other times I gently pet it as I clean the enclosure. This regular proximity between my hand and my mantis IMO makes them calmer and more used to your presence, which makes handling much easier.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I've been keeping mantids for about three years now, but I've only raised one or two from nymphs. I think a big determinant of mantid handleability is their upbringing, like you said. I raised a nymph to adulthood and handled him fairly frequently, and he was very friendly! However, I've taken in quite a few females I've found around my yard (right before frost begins, so they have already had a chance to mate but will likely die if they remain outside) and it's really hit-or-miss on whether or not you can hold them. I found sometimes they like to hold your finger with the sharp part of their raptorial forelimbs if they've just had a big meal to hoist themselves onto your hand, which can hurt! I have a front-opening acrylic enclosure for my current mantis, and I just leave the front open during maintenance. Sometimes my mantis wanders out onto my hand, and other times I gently pet it as I clean the enclosure. This regular proximity between my hand and my mantis IMO makes them calmer and more used to your presence, which makes handling much easier.

Last one I held outside attacked me haha i let it go incase it was gravid.
Sharp mantis claws!

 

[sooshi]

I've been keeping mantids for about three years now, but I've only raised one or two from nymphs. I think a big determinant of mantid handleability is their upbringing, like you said. I raised a nymph to adulthood and handled him fairly frequently, and he was very friendly! However, I've taken in quite a few females I've found around my yard (right before frost begins, so they have already had a chance to mate but will likely die if they remain outside) and it's really hit-or-miss on whether or not you can hold them. I found sometimes they like to hold your finger with the sharp part of their raptorial forelimbs if they've just had a big meal to hoist themselves onto your hand, which can hurt! I have a front-opening acrylic enclosure for my current mantis, and I just leave the front open during maintenance. Sometimes my mantis wanders out onto my hand, and other times I gently pet it as I clean the enclosure. This regular proximity between my hand and my mantis IMO makes them calmer and more used to your presence, which makes handling much easier.

i love the fact that you can find them outside your house. Seems very cool. Here we don’t have them in the wild so i do not have experience with that (would love to tho). Thank you for the extra information. Helps alot. For adults mantids found in the wild with no expierence in captivity i agree with you that it is much harder to handle them. Thought not impossible. And yes do be careful as they might not bring as much pain as other pets on here they can still hurt you if they wanted. (Kinda counts for every pet)

 

[Tentacle Toast]

I don't believe handling them is as strongly advised against as Ts are (for obvious reasons), & I frequently do, be it ones I've purchased, or caught outside. Id suggest it really boils down to the individual mantis, as some tolerate it, some don't, & some seem to genuinely enjoy the interaction... seriously, as it they're studying you as closely as you're studying them.
The only observation I have made, is that the larger varieties (Chinese, Dead Leaf, African, etc, etc) seem more receptive to it than the smaller ones (although I did have a whalbergii that didn't seem to mind it).

They're smart, too. I've had to shu them off of my hummingbird feeders, as they'll set up & wait to nab one. I keep Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants), & have one in particular that I take outside in the warmer months. Not only have I witnessed them positioned above the pitchers, but have had stowaways multiple years upon bringing her (this particular plant's name is Sheila) back in the house for the cooler months. When this happens, it is the guest of honor until it passes (usually just shy of spring here, unfortunately).

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I don't believe handling them is as strongly advised against as Ts are (for obvious reasons), & I frequently do, be it ones I've purchased, or caught outside. Id suggest it really boils down to the individual mantis, as some tolerate it, some don't, & some seem to genuinely enjoy the interaction... seriously, as it they're studying you as closely as you're studying them.
The only observation I have made, is that the larger varieties (Chinese, Dead Leaf, African, etc, etc) seem more receptive to it than the smaller ones (although I did have a whalbergii that didn't seem to mind it).

They're smart, too. I've had to shu them off of my hummingbird feeders, as they'll set up & wait to nab one. I keep Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants), & have one in particular that I take outside in the warmer months. Not only have I witnessed them positioned above the pitchers, but have had stowaways multiple years upon bringing her (this particular plant's name is Sheila) back in the house for the cooler months. When this happens, it is the guest of honor until it passes (usually just shy of spring here, unfortunately).

Poor hummingbirds they probably never see the mantis.

 

[Tentacle Toast]

Poor hummingbirds they probably never see the mantis.

No, not until it's too late. I've witnessed it twice, & it's brutal.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

I don't believe handling them is as strongly advised against as Ts are (for obvious reasons), & I frequently do, be it ones I've purchased, or caught outside. Id suggest it really boils down to the individual mantis, as some tolerate it, some don't, & some seem to genuinely enjoy the interaction... seriously, as it they're studying you as closely as you're studying them.
The only observation I have made, is that the larger varieties (Chinese, Dead Leaf, African, etc, etc) seem more receptive to it than the smaller ones (although I did have a whalbergii that didn't seem to mind it).

They're smart, too. I've had to shu them off of my hummingbird feeders, as they'll set up & wait to nab one. I keep Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants), & have one in particular that I take outside in the warmer months. Not only have I witnessed them positioned above the pitchers, but have had stowaways multiple years upon bringing her (this particular plant's name is Sheila) back in the house for the cooler months. When this happens, it is the guest of honor until it passes (usually just shy of spring here, unfortunately).

Yeah, they're crazy smart. Probably taking them out and handling them may be beneficial as a form of enrichment and mental stimulation.

 

[Tentacle Toast]

Yeah, they're crazy smart. Probably taking them out and handling them may be beneficial as a form of enrichment and mental stimulation.

I wouldn't doubt it. They definitely have more going on upstairs than you'd typically give an insect credit for, that's for sure.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Great tutorial!

I heard a story from my uncle where a mantis "attacked and bit" him... but I said hey UNC.

Praying mantis have things called raptorial legs or raptors which are sharp and it probably just flew and the raptors got ya.