Who knew that Praying Mantises were an exotic pet?

[fast306stang]

I went to an exotic pet expo today and a few people had jumping spiders and praying mantises. The mantis babies were about the size of the lead of a sharpened pencil. General lifespan is 8-14 months.

They're actually pretty cool.

 

[fast306stang]

And no, I didn't get one.


I was really torn between a milksnake or a pair of milk frogs. The frogs really need a lot of maintenance. So I passed. And I don't need another snake. So I passed on that too. The kid in me was heartbroken but the adult in me knows I made the right decision.

 

[Kahrnut]

 

[fast306stang]

View attachment 8878147

That one's small but the ones for sale were less than half that size

 

[Kahrnut]

 

[HERMET]

Mantises are cool but I've never considered one as a pet.
Just like human females their mating rituals are a little too predatory for my taste. The only difference is mantis kill their mate quickly and human women stretch it out over a lifetime.

 

[basstracker89]

Mantises are cool but I've never considered one as a pet.
Just like human women their mating rituals are a little too predatory for my taste. The only difference is mantis kill their mate quickly and human women stretch it out over a lifetime.

When you're right, you're right........

 

[41mag]

Mantises are cool but I've never considered one as a pet.
Just like human women their mating rituals are a little too predatory for my taste. The only difference is mantis kill their mate quickly and human women stretch it out over a lifetime.

Yep….so true !!

 

[41mag]

When I was a bit younger (about 19-20) my brother was crazy about snakes and other exotic pets. He had a nice Red tail Boa , along with a Burmese Python. But one year he gave me a tarantula for a present. Gave me the aquarium and the whole set up. It was a Mexican Red Leg Tarantula. Pretty damned cool !! About twice a year it would shed its skin. The thing was when it did you couldn’t tell the skin from the living spider until it moved !! So I would take the skin sheds and put them around my apartment on plants, on the tv, etc.,
People would come over and they knew I had that big ass spider, they would see the skin on the tv or setting on the table beside the couch or something and it would freak them out !! They would think the spider was loose and start freaking : “ Damn dude !! That spider is out !!” 🤣
That dang thing had fangs like as long or longer than cat claws !! I would feed it mostly crickets, small goldfish, stuff I could get at the pet store that I knew wasn’t infected with something. He lived a good 17-18 yrs ! He was a good 6-7” in diameter ! I mean he was bigger than what you’d think !! About the size of a small saucer plate .
The books and stuff I had on him said some lived up to 30-40yrs !! I really enjoyed having him. I would handle him some but not many folks would !!

 

[basstracker89]

When I was a bit younger (about 19-20) my brother was crazy about snakes and other exotic pets. He had a nice Red tail Boa , along with a Burmese Python. But one year he gave me a tarantula for a present. Gave me the aquarium and the whole set up. It was a Mexican Red Leg Tarantula. Pretty damned cool !! About twice a year it would shed its skin. The thing was when it did you couldn’t tell the skin from the living spider until it moved !! So I would take the skin sheds and put them around my apartment on plants, on the tv, etc.,
People would come over and they knew I had that big ass spider, they would see the skin on the tv or setting on the table beside the couch or something and it would freak them out !! They would think the spider was loose and start freaking : “ Damn dude !! That spider is out !!” 🤣
That dang thing had fangs like as long or longer than cat claws !! I would feed it mostly crickets, small goldfish, stuff I could get at the pet store that I knew wasn’t infected with something. He lived a good 17-18 yrs !
The books and stuff I had on him said some lived up to 30-40yrs !! I really enjoyed having him. I would handle him some but not many folks would !!

I loved the idea of setting the skins out......... 🤣Good times!!!!