Mantid enclosure

[larean]

Has any of you got experience with Tenodera Aridifolia? I recently purchased 5 babies. I have also bought a few interesting lamps. They're basically light bulbs in a glass bell jar with an open underside, 30 cms high and about 15 in diameter. Something like this: http://www.dargate.com/231_auction/231_images/2665.jpg but with a light bulb in it.
I was wondering, I you could 'hang' a little mesh enclosure underneah it, would it be ok to keep the mantids in? I would of course use one of those economic lamps that produce very little heat and provide enough shade for them.
Do you think the mesh underneath would provide enough ventilation? There would be very little air flow, wouldn't there? And would there be a hot air 'buildup' in the top (there's no opening there)?
I'm also still doubting about whether it is 'right' to keep them in such an enclosure, if you know what I mean. It would be a beautiful sight though. And I would probably only be able to keep them for a short while, as they grow to about 10 cm (4 inch?).

Thanks

[SpyrotheGartersnake]

never house praying mantids together they are known to be cannibalistic (especially females)but other than that you have all the supplies you need but what wattage are the light bulbs they should a least be 10,15 or 20 wattage. you need to take either the mesh or the light bulb because it will become too humid and very liitle air can come through and they could suffocate praying mantids need air just as much as we do they live in the same oxgen level as we do too.

[larean]

Of course I won't house them together, these mantids will eat anything moving:)
I was thinking of a wattage of about 20, but those economic lamps don't get very hot, so maybe I should buy a stronger one. It's all still hypothetical, I was just wondering whether this would work. The 'basket' underneath would be all mesh, so if they stayed there there would be no humidity problem, but if they went up to the lamp (they love sunbathing), it might be too hot/humid/too little oxygen.

What do you mean with 'take either the mesh or the light bulb'?

Thanks

[Snake lover 3-25]

um....... what is a mantid???????? is it an insect???

[larean]

http://foto.epson.com/es/crea_foto.asp?idAlbum=66058&idFoto=381851&tamanio=5
and:
Mantis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantid)

[anji1971]

I've kept mantids every summer for as long as I can remember.
But I've never used a set-up with lights, so I can't give you any help there.
I've always just used a small container with a mesh top for ventilation, some growing plants, and mist it every day for humidity. They seem to flourish without any really special care, other than truckloads of food........to say they're voracious eaters is an understatement!!!:eek:

[Snake lover 3-25]

oooooooo we call them praying mantises...... LOL :):):):D i've kept them every time i've found them....... they are fun to watch...... esp when their eating.....:D:D

[jitami]

We've kept quite a few of these, too, and really didn't offer them any sort of special care... clean dry container(critter cage, tank, whatever) water bowl, and a good assortment of food. Small crickets work in a pinch, but we usually just gathered insects for them. A branch and/or some leaves seem appreciated :) OH, and one thing I did learn is to NOT give up on hatch-lings too soon! I accidentally forgot that I had an egg sack in a jar in a window and left it there too long... I felt sooooo bad when I discovered it later the next spring :(