Praying Mantis as Pets

[Asheka]

So, I've just completely fallen in love with this adorable baby praying mantis a girl I follow on Tumblr posted tonight. I was chatting with her about them and now really want one heh The species she has is an African Pinstripe and maxes out at about an inch in size, does perfect in room temp with daily misting.
Unfortunately, finding this species in Canada seems to be harder, which is basically impossible since I've only been able to find one Canadian breeder, out in B.C. Not exactly something sold in stores here.

While I'm waiting for response as to a similar species, I'm of course on the hunt for a good forum to research like mad. Unfortunately, they also seem impossibly rare. I've only found two at all, and neither are well organized. although, I think I've become very picky (and spoiled) by how amazing it is here heh

I'm wondering if anyone here has a praying mantis and/or knows of a good forum for information and of course community itself. Thanks!

[wodesorel]

I'm pretty sure the reason you can't find any is because non-native (non-naturalized) species are illegal in Canada. You guys have the WORST bug laws out there.

http://www.edmontonreptiles.com/forum/s ... post132239

[KellyCrabbieLove]

I love mantis. I had one that would sit on my shoulder while I worked outside. He lived on the side of my grandma's brick house. Mantis are one of the like 4 bugs that don't freak me out. Manris, lady bugs, lightning bugs and pill bugs.

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[Asheka]

I'm pretty sure the reason you can't find any is because non-native (non-naturalized) species are illegal in Canada. You guys have the WORST bug laws out there.

http://www.edmontonreptiles.com/forum/s ... post132239

Seriously?! What the h? I really don't understand that at all...I did find a breeder in B.C. though, so I'm not sure how that all works. That makes no sense to me whatsoever, it's not like the mantids will take over, and most of them migrate at some point anyway, right?
ugh. for all the good stuff we have, we have the most ridiculous bad stuff. I guess I'll keep looking, cuz really, who's going to come in looking for an illegal insect lol and if it's coming from Canada, I'm assuming it's not illegal...

Yea, Kelly, I'm the same. I don't like bugs, but these little guys are so fascinating to me.

[wodesorel]

There is only one native species in Canada. The most commonly found wild ones there and in the USA are actually foreign, and were purposely released for pest control. (European and Chinese mantises.) So, there is precedent for species getting loose and taking over.

[Asheka]

Did some more reading. Still seriously annoyed, but I still want one lol Maybe I'll get lucky. Still odd there's not really any good forums out there.

[wodesorel]

Try arachnoboards, they have an insect subforum. There were a lot of owners on roachforums.com as well if I remember right.

There are underground owners and breeders in Canada that have illegal insects. You may end up finding one someday.

[Asheka]

I may have found one. She's in the states but can ship the egg sack (I forget the technical term lol) so I'm considering it. It's the exact species I want, but I don't necessarily want like a dozen or more of them heh Not exactly sure what to do, as I can't exactly sell them openly.

Thanks for the tips, I'll have to take a look around!

[wodesorel]

It should be more like 100+ babies. And remember that they only live a few months to a year, and that baby mantids need newly hatched fruit flies since they're so tiny! (Yeah, if you can't tell I've been interested in doing the same, but the lifespan and costs have kept me from doing it.)

[Asheka]

I have been reading a lot and am still considering it. I have a friend in Newfoundland that loves mantids and has quite a few friends who might as well, so I will be researching shipping too.

Yeah, I don't like the lifespans at all, find it a bit odd it's at most a year. I may look into a slightly larger species maybe but think the African Pinstripe is just too cute. I'm very torn as it'd be about $60 after shipping for the Ooth and really I wouldn't ask my friend more than the cost of next day shipping to send any to her.

Why can't the really awesome pets be easier to get heh