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It's been kind of that way for Oisín, too, but in his case, he's just had bad luck. ;_;

Ya know. I kept asking myself why I hadn't tracked this yet, but then I'd see something shiny and get distracted.

So now I'm finally getting around to doing so. About time.

Said it before I'll say it again. That video came out incredible! Well worth the time spent on it.
Also, creepy bearded guy...

Went back and read Polt's death again today.
Started crying a little.
I always think of her when I hear Cosmic Love.
Thumbs up again for making something that really stayed with me.
adsdsadhfj ;;

PICTURES NAO ! >8(

Schutz:
I'M LAZY.

Paz:
Why not? Don't you think he looks good in it?
Ciel decided to go painting, and Gehirn became the canvas. 8(. I suppose he's covered in fingerpaint.

I'm normally not very big on bugs, but those mantids are absolutely gorgeous. It's hard for me to pick a favorite between the two, honestly.

Those are some cool looking mantii.
Mantises.
Mantidi.
Yes.

Ahh, that Ghost Mantis looks especially awesome.

Lung:
I'm a spider phobic myself, and some bigs are in movement/spontanious behaivor quite similair. Like crickets! Those can also somewhat trigger my not-so-fondness. But the mantis is so.. Well you see where they're going, to state it blunt. It's front is very different from it's hind, and because of that I'm not afraid of em XD I also think Spike has helped me be more tolerant of other bugs too!
It is hard for me too. I love the Ghost's appereance, they are called that because of their ghostly movements. They sway like a leaf to imitate it. On the other hand, they're very small. Violins are also dead leaf mantids, more high maintenance but a lot bigger! One of the bigger species really. And well, atm the breeder seems to have two of them, and the ghosts are harder to come by at the moment.

FishBiscuit:
I've loved mantids as a kid as well, and I always thought I could only have one when I'd be living on my own. But it's really not that hard at all! I'd say they're more low maintenance than my fish. Spike himself is a very easy one, he doesn't need high temperatures (around room temperature is fine, warmer is always nice) and some netting to climb on. I have a little glass enclosure with two sliding front doors, and I put netting on the sides of the cube. And the top ofcourse, because all they do is hang upside down. And stare like a creeper. Spike gets his fluids from his food, but I also have to occassionally spray some waterdroplets in the enclosure for him to drink of. (Or I use my finger, so cute! XD)

His food consists of what I catch outside. So if you live in a warm country, that's the best I suppose! Houseflies, bluebottles, butterflies, they like those. Wasps and spiders are possible, but those may fight back. It's a risk. So all the way through summer I just went outside with a glass and a piece of paper to catch Spike food. Once a week is plenty, but since I always found it fun to watch him, he'd get something from me 3-4 times a week. They stop eating when they're full.
Once every month, or when you think you see a lot of fly corpses sprawled on the dirt, it's good to clean the enclosure. Replace the dirt.

Now Spike is a Spiny Flower Mantid, and those are commonly known for being agressive. He was very hard to handle at first. Really had to get used to me, so he's not as much a playbuddy as a more common mantis like the Chinese or African mantis. (I think Mandy is an african) But that does give him some personality, I think XDD What you have to watch out for with enclosure, is that it's not -too- big. It should be three times the mantid's lenght in height, for them to shed properly. Oh, and when they're not adult yet and need to shed, you need to keep the enclosure slightly humid so it's easier to get the skin loose for them.
With a big enclosure, like a giant aquarium, it's possible it'll be too big for them to catch their prey easily. I have a 20x20x20cm enclosure, and that works nicely. But that does reduce his ability to fly about. (He does that when I take him out. Ohboy.)
Uuuhm....

Websites like these contain urls to other specimen on the left side. Otherwise, google! Every mantid is different and needs different attention, so also keep in mind in what kind of region you live to know if a mantid is a good species for you. And some have more maintenance than others, or are less handable than others. So yeah. They aren't specifically cuddly but I have a lot of fun with Spike. His stubborn personality and curiousity are always fun to watch XD

Ocean:
I know right! They look amazing! Now only if I had a macro camera.. XD

Ooh! That's cool to hear.. the only time I've been physically around mantids was way way wayyyy back in Kindercare when one of the counselor guys brought us an egg sack (I like to think he got it with me in mind since I was his favorite xD; ) that I think his friend who was a mantis breeder asked him to incubate for him. It was really cool to be there and to see all the babies coming out and that just further fueled my want of one.

My aquarium is 20 across, 10 deep, and 12 high. I used to have a fat ol' frog in it years ago so I still have the heating mat and of course the plant light which has been used as a heating lamp before.
I'll definitely have to research tons and then talk it over with my parents x) Thank you for the resources! I greatly appreciate it~

[edit]
I hope you have/had fun with Vee!

*oompa loompa dance*

Glad too hear you had fun with Vee's visit.

But oh gosh, poor Spike. :c

.

*Hugs tight*

Aww, I'm sorry. I'm sure he had a good life. //hugs

Oh, that's too bad.. 8'(
You did everything you could for him. I think that in his own little understanding of the world around him, he appreciated your efforts greatly.

♥ ):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-28jAoTPFw

Happy birthday! <3333

Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday you awesome person of destiny and amazingnesssss. :]

*H*A*P*P*Y*****B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*

ROFL! Thanks for all the birthday wishes guys! And what's with the depressing videos Vee and Shim >8C GOSH. X"D
Aah it's been okay so far, I like my birthdays calm~ so no issue there! Wish my packages would've arrived but I fear that's not gonna happen! Oh well maybe this weekend ^^
Thanks again guys! You're too sweet XD ♥

Happy Birthday, hun! <3

Here’s to surviving another year! Time to start another trip around the sun. Thank goodness for the spaceship.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF BEING 21

Congratulations! You can now legally get hammered! 8D -wall-
Really though happy Birthday <3