I read the shipping sticky but still ?

[holeinone1972]

I have shipped all kinds of livestock, but never a mantis.

Unfortuneatly shipping costs for fedex and others for overnight usage have gone way up with gas prices.

Will a mantis be ok in a thermos us priority mail?

If not a thermos, I have all kinds of bags I could quadruple bag it.... Much more room for air, but not as good of insulation as the thermos.

I know to use a little water, but would it help to put a little spaghetti algae in with it?

Rob
ps here is the potential shipee! About 2"

 

[Gonodactylus]

A true thermos with a glass lining is a very bad idea. It doesnt take much of a hit from the inside to break them. A plastic insulated drink container will work fine.

I would not put in algae. Keep the water as clean as possible. For a Gonodactylid this size, a cup of water in a quart container shipped overnight will work fine. If you are shipping two-day air, a half gallon container (or three plastic bags (zip-locks can open with changes in air pressure) will do, but some kind of insulation is desirable since you can't predict the temperature extremes the package will encounter. I styrofoam six-pac cooler will work, or you can cut 1 inch styrofoam sheeting to line a cardboard box.

Roy