The Rise of My New Pet Mantis

Summary

In this video, the creator takes viewers through the fascinating process of setting up a nano tank for a spiny flower mantis, complete with plants, isopods, and springtails to create a self-sustaining ecosystem. From the challenges of package delays to the meticulous design of the tank, including plant choices, dirt layering, and lighting modifications, the video offers a detailed and engaging guide. The mantis’s behavior, such as its defense mechanism and molting process, is also highlighted, along with a look at its growth and future potential for breeding. A fun and informative watch for nature and DIY enthusiasts alike.

Takeaways

• 😀 A common blowfly and a spiny flower mantis are introduced at the start of the video.
• 🌱 The video demonstrates how to create a nano tank with a balanced ecosystem, including plants and animals.
• 📦 The narrator discusses receiving a delayed package containing small mantids and a fruit fly culture as a food source.
• 🍽️ The mantids initially turned mealtime into a massacre, consuming the fruit flies quickly and always starting with the head.
• 🦗 The narrator upgrades the mantids' living space from small deli cups to larger containers with better ventilation.
• 🔄 The narrator explains the process of molting in mantids, where they shed their skin to grow.
• 🪴 A beverage dispenser is repurposed to create a suitable tank with a substrate, plants, and a false bottom for water drainage.
• 🌿 The narrator selects plants for the tank based on their visual contrast, cleans the plants to remove pesticides, and adds moss from the wild.
• 💡 The tank is equipped with an LED light, and the lid is modified with popsicle sticks to secure the wiring.
• 🐛 Additional inhabitants like zebra isopods and springtails are added to the tank to help maintain cleanliness and prevent mold outbreaks.
• 🦗 The mantids are introduced to the setup, with the narrator explaining that only one can be kept in the tank at a time due to their cannibalistic nature.
• 🕺 The mantids' defense mechanism is highlighted, where they 'dance' by waving their arms and revealing eye spots to appear bigger and more intimidating.
• 🦋 As mantids grow, they will develop large wings, though this process takes time.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on creating a nano tank with a self-sustaining ecosystem, featuring plants, animals, and specifically a praying mantis as the main star of the tank.

What challenges did the creator face in receiving the animals?

The creator experienced a delay in receiving the package, despite paying for overnight shipping, and was initially frustrated with USPS and FedEx, although the animals arrived in perfect condition.

How did the mantids behave upon being fed their first meal?

The mantids quickly turned the feeding time into a massacre, eagerly eating any fruit flies provided, always starting with the head.

What does molting mean for the mantids, and why is it significant?

Molting is when the mantids shed their skin to grow, much like lizards or snakes. It's significant because it shows the mantids’ growth and development, with their appearance drastically changing after each molt.

What modifications were made to the container to house the mantids?

The creator modified a beverage dispenser by removing the faucet and sealing the hole in the bottom with hot glue and a bottle cap. This created a watertight seal for the tank.

What steps were taken to set up the substrate and plants in the tank?

The bottom of the tank was filled with Lika (a false bottom), covered with weed fabric to separate it from the substrate, and sloped towards the back to create depth. Organic orchid potting mix was used, and the plants were chosen for their contrasting leaves.

Why did the creator sterilize the moss used in the tank?

The creator sterilized the moss to prevent introducing any pests or harmful organisms, as wild moss can harbor various contaminants.

What role do the zebra isopods and springtails play in the tank?

Zebra isopods act as cleanup crew, eating decaying matter to help maintain cleanliness, while springtails serve as janitors, preventing mold and fungi outbreaks and keeping the ecosystem healthy.

What issue arises when multiple mantids are kept together?

Mantids are cannibalistic and will eat each other, so the creator can only add one mantis per tank setup to prevent them from harming one another.

What is the mantids' defense mechanism when they feel threatened?

When scared, mantids do not flee; instead, they wave their arms in the air to appear larger and more intimidating. They also reveal an eye spot on their abdomen and shake it to further deter potential threats.