housing baby mantids

[lychas]

i have just had 2 mantids produce their egg cases a couple of days apart and just wondering, when they hatch what is the best way to house 100 or so mantid babies untill they are ready for sale?

 

[TNeal]

For the first couple of weeks, depending on species, you can keep them together. Then seperate them. But, if they are a valuable species and you want to save everyone possible I would put them each into their own containers. I use 1 gallon rubbermaid jars.

Tom

 

[padkison]

Butterfly mesh cages work well. You can get them at Livemonarch.com. For 100 + nymphs, I would use the size that is about 1'x1'x2'. Feeding is then easy, just shake a bunch of fruit flies in every couple days. Mist once a day to help molting.

With enough space and enough food, they can be kept together for several molts with minimal losses.

 

[HepCatMoe]

you might want to check out mantidforum.com

they have lots of good info.

 

[lychas]

how much are the 1 gallon jars worth?

 

[lychas]

i have already sold 50 so i need to at least keep that many of them

 

[lychas]

i emailed livemonarch.com but no reply, does anyone have a better way to contact them?