Tunnel building in mantises

[sdm]

My mantis (N. wennerae- 1st one, so I'm sorta a newb) phil, has been acting funny lately-often out of sight in his burrow...now I know why. Looking into the tank recently, I saw another burrow! 5 new burrows actually-phil's made a network of tunnels in his tank, now totaling at about 7-8 entrances...is this normal? I noticed them when I saw him on one side of the tank, dash under a rock and pop up in his pvc tube on the other side! I think I'm mainly worried cause now I don't have a clue where he'll pop up next...it's gettin dangerous in there!:lol:

 

[bkwudzjeep]

Yea...mine did the same thing. He even covered most of them to look like the rock again. I noticed a piece fell when re-scaping the tank.
One other rock I had a mantis removed from....I was poking around some of the areas with a bamboo skewer and a huge section just caved in and revealed 3-4 tunnels going to different sides of the rock.

Pretty sweet animals IMO!!

 

[sdm]

Ok...long as its safe...

 

[EzRida206]

yea he is going to build lots of tunnels, fill some in, rebuild, etc.. constant activity from my N.W.

 

[sdm]

it's just that he seems determined to have me think he lives in one spot, and really be in another...

 

[Gonodactylus]

All of the burrowing in soft sediment is unusual for this species and suggests that they have not yet found a suitable home. They nearly always live in cavities. What it is trying to do is find one, or build something that is cavity like. When it can't, it moves on and tries again.

Roy

 

[sdm]

He's got plenty of em, just keeps switching them burrows.......

 

[Agu]

My N wennerae has made holes in rock, moved sand, and created quit the subteranean network. He's quit the construction worker :lol: .

Agu