Ghost praying mantis

[jaleely]

Finally took some pics of my mantids. They are sooo cute! My little aliens. I had them from nymphs, so they are almost grown now ...which means they won't last too much longer :( But these may go past a year. I hope so!

They were crawling around my pastel bps cage (Tigger)...then some close ups. I just love these guys. See that intense stare? And they wiggle because they like to pretend to be a leaf. :)

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n640/jaleely/snakes/IMG_20120120_224744.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n640/jaleely/snakes/IMG_20120120_223837.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n640/jaleely/snakes/IMG_20120120_224111.jpg

[exwizard]

Wicked looking! Ive never had one of these before.

[Norm66]

Awesome! Cool critters. :)

[Trent]

Those are cool!

[Kayla90]

:O Awesome.
We had a green one, but these are far cooler :D

[DragonsEye]

Sweet! Phyllocrania are a species I do want to try someday. Such cool alien-looking critters.

[CK SandBoas]

That is so cool looking!

[alessia55]

I can never tell where the "face" is or the eyes if they have any, or which are feet vs arms... so confusing!

[BarelyBreathing]

These are awesome. Where did you get them?

[SpOoKy]

I want some!!!!

[jaleely]

Last August we got them at a random vendor at the reptile show in Pamona. The guy just wanted to get rid of them, so we got three nymphs for five bucks, since we were already buying a tarantula. I didn't see them there this Jan when we went.
I only have two left (one had a bad molt) A boy and a girl. The girl is the one in the last pic, looking at the camera with her big alien eyes. The male is in the background actually, with the higher "top knot". These are the only species that can live together without eating each other, and they are slightly dimorphic. I loove them! I will probably not get more though, as for some reason it stresses me out that they live such short lives.

[RandyRhoads]

Those are incredible!

[DragonsEye]

Last August we got them at a random vendor at the reptile show in Pamona. The guy just wanted to get rid of them, so we got three nymphs for five bucks, since we were already buying a tarantula. I didn't see them there this Jan when we went.

I will probably not get more though, as for some reason it stresses me out that they live such short lives.

You got a nice deal on them. With any luck they will successfully mate and the female will provide you with some ooths.

[jaleely]

I wish they would. I don't think i keep the conditions up to what they would like for mating. I know they have seaons/cycles and things, and i'm actually too busy dealing with the snakes and dogs to really do much more than feed them and just enjoy them.
I have been checking for egg sacs lately though...juuust in case.
Let me see if i can find a pic of how big they were when i got them...so adorable!

I can't find the one i'm looking for...it's when they were just barely first shed, and it's on the tip of my finger. These here on my hand are a few sheds later.
The ones in the OP are the other day, and so they are about half grown at least.

[BarelyBreathing]

They're too cool.

[DragonsEye]

I agree .. too cool.

[Wolfus_305]

ahah I looked at the pictures and thought to myself "why are people posting pictures of leaves and sticks?" then I realized that that was the critter XD
they look really neat!

[BarelyBreathing]

Hahaha, awesome.

[jaleely]

wolfus, they got you! they WANT you to think they are leaves and sticks, so they can eat your face when you don't expect it! muwaha!

[jaleely]

Some MORE photos! How can you resist???

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n640/jaleely/snakes/Photo4071.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n640/jaleely/snakes/Photo4070.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n640/jaleely/snakes/Photo4068.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n640/jaleely/snakes/Photo4066.jpg

http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n640/jaleely/snakes/Photo4065.jpg

[BarelyBreathing]

Yeah, it's official. I need these.

[millertime89]

those things are 100% BA

[jaleely]

I didn't see anyone selling any this year at the reptile show. I think i do want to get more when these pass on...I've always loved praying mantis, but they just live such darn short lives i can't help but think about their mortality when I take care of them!

I was actually thinking maybe i should get into stick bugs next. I saw that post around here somewhere where someone had ordered some and uses them for feeding. My red eyed croc skink would probably love them.

[BarelyBreathing]

You have a red eye?!?!?!?!

Post pictures!!!!

[cute_snakeyface]

I LOVE all mantis. :D They are awesome, brutal, and come in so many amazing shapes and colors.

There are mantis in NW U.S. I found 'ittybitty' on my front door frame. :) I grow my thumbnail out on my right hand for guitar, and it turned out to be a sweet little platform for it.

We hung out over a cigarette before I let it go, only needing the slightest bit of encouragement to step off onto a nearby bush. It was cool.

Another one I saw near here was yellow. It looked like gold.

[SpOoKy]

I LOVE all mantis. :D They are awesome, brutal, and come in so many amazing shapes and colors.

There are mantis in NW U.S. I found 'ittybitty' on my front door frame. :) I grow my thumbnail out on my right hand for guitar, and it turned out to be a sweet little platform for it.

We hung out over a cigarette before I let it go, only needing the slightest bit of encouragement to step off onto a nearby bush. It was cool.

Another one I saw near here was yellow. It looked like gold.

What an great picture, and I am sure an equally great experience. thanks for sharing that :)

[jaleely]

ah i just asked you about it in another post, before i saw this! lol
totally cute!

And BB here ya go! Took me a second, I knew i posted something on mine a while ago. I had hijacked another person's thread muwahaha!

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-lizard-forum/87698-help-needed-red-eye-croc-caresheet.html

[BarelyBreathing]

Saweeeeeeeeet!