i caught a praying mantis and plan on keeping it as a pet.
their claws concern me.. they keep me from handling them.
they look like they would easily pierce your skin if a praying mantis stabbed you with it.
2006-11-06 19:47:39 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Praying mantids don't stab with their claws - they grab with them! Unless you muck about and somehow fool the mantis into thinking that your finger is a fat worm it's unlikely to waste it's time trying to catch you!! They do scratch a bit sometimes, but usually just because they have so many sharp bits sticking out, and they don't do any real damage..!
If you're frightened of your mantis then DON'T handle it! You'll just make it nervous, and might injure it when you react jerkily to it's movements! If it's just the claws you're worried about, handle it using gardening gloves! But don't try to move it far, just to put it in a different container while you clean it's normal container! And don't hold it up to your face - anecdotal evidence suggests that sometimes they mistake the sudden movements of the eye for a nice, juicy, dark, round bug ... and pounce!! They're FAST pouncers, too!
Do you have a food supply for it? If it's a female it'll eat lots of bugs - if it's male it won't need a lot. They have to be LIVE bugs though!
If it's a female she'll want to lay an egg sack if she lives long enough. Even a male will want to climb around and have things to dangle upside-down from! It must have it's wings already, and must be getting pretty old - for a mantis.
But if you DO want to handle it, you have to be gentle yet FIRM! Nervousness has no place in pet-handling!
2006-11-07 00:18:35 · answer #1 · answered by _ 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, it can, particularly if it feels threatened. A praying mantis is a wild creature, and should belong in its natural habitat. If you're planning on keeping it as a pet, do ensure that you've got the right requisites, food, etc etc, so that it will still feel as if it's living in its natural home.
2006-11-06 19:59:45 · answer #2 · answered by m 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They use their claws to capture their prey, usually smaller insects than themselves so they would be rather sharp and possibly painful. However as long as you intend to look after your praying mantis by all means have him as a pet and enjoy.
2006-11-06 20:07:06 · answer #3 · answered by Bentele 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i have never had one puncture my skin, and i have caught several as a child in texas. i do believe that wild creatures should remain so. how would you like to be caged,
if you are going to keep it, check out the site below
2006-11-06 19:53:48 · answer #4 · answered by spacye 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you squish a praying mantis with your shoe?
2006-11-06 20:04:53 · answer #5 · answered by Tyson 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
yes they can and so will the spikes on a grasshoppers legs
2006-11-06 20:56:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
ur hand won't bleed or anything if it does prick u!
2006-11-06 20:00:13 · answer #7 · answered by . 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they can... be careful..
2006-11-06 19:49:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋