STORY - Shipping a mantis MO to PA

[Python73]

Recently Clownbreeder posted a free to good home mantis here. I took him up on the offer, and I though some people might be interested in the mechanics of the exchange.

After checking shipping prices, Clownbreeder sent me some choices. I chose Fedex overnight, which we estimated around $20. I sent a money order for the shipping. A couple of days later, Clownbreeder packed up "Manty" and sent him off. I received the package at 2:17 today.

The mantis was packed in a glad disposable tupperware container (my idea ) and wrapped in some foil type insulation and peanuts (CBs idea!). The water was 60 degrees when I opened it, which is pretty much the temp outside today. The package sat on my stoop for a little less than an hour, with mild sunlight.

The mantis is no worse for the wear. After a short acclimation, he went into my 20g in the garage.

Hope this might help some of you who are giving / getting mantis.

S !

 

[Gonodactylus]

Cold is probably the biggest danger to stomatopods during shipping. While some species can take short periods of temperature below about 68, many tropical species including Odontodactylus do not tolerate low temperatures. If you can, you should always use a heat pack or two to try to keep the temperature above the mid-60's. It is unlikely that the water will become too warm.

The same warning applies to carrying animls on a plane. In baggage, the temperature can drop very low. Even in the cabin, if you place the animals in the overhead, the temperatures can drop to the mid-50's. More than once on flights back from Australia or Indonesia I've kept my animals under a blanket on my lap. (I now have a good supply of heat packs and don't have to worry.)

Roy