Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a two year old albino corn snake. She's small for her age, about 2 feet long and not quite as thick as a permanent marker.

I found a 3" long praying mantis the other day, and I'd like to keep him. He's in a small cage by himself right now, but I'm wondering if I'd be able to keep him in the same cage as the snake (it's a 30g aquarium). I know the setup for a praying mantis is the same as a setup required for a snake, so I think the tank itself is ok. I also don't think the mantis will hurt the snake at all. I'm just wondering if the snake will try to eat the praying mantis.

I'm thinking she probably won't, because I know from experience that she won't eat crickets. I tried to feed her crickets when she was a hatchling, because she was a runt and had a hard time
eating pinkies. She didn't have any interest in the crickets at all.

Also, she's never eaten anything but frozen pinkies, so she has no experience with live food. I don't feed her in her cage, but in a separate container. Plus, her sight is very bad (has been since she was born), so she "hunts" by smell, not by sight.

Anyone have any experience with stuff like this?

You can buy a pretty awesome preying mantis enclosure at Walmart for about $2.50 (try housewares). So why take a risk?

the mantis would eat only live insects..... insect like crickets eat everything... they would even nibble the snake itself. and whatever you feed the mantis it would crawl over and bother the snake....

not worth it

ps. the mantis might have some internal parasits that could affect the snkae

I wouldn't, but......

You're only feeding your snake pinkies, she seriously needs something bigger if she is 2 years old. If you have only been feeding pinkies it's no wonder she is small for her age. My 2 year olds are eating adult mice.

Just a thought

>>I've got a two year old albino corn snake. She's small for her age, about 2 feet long and not quite as thick as a permanent marker.
>>
>>I found a 3" long praying mantis the other day, and I'd like to keep him. He's in a small cage by himself right now, but I'm wondering if I'd be able to keep him in the same cage as the snake (it's a 30g aquarium). I know the setup for a praying mantis is the same as a setup required for a snake, so I think the tank itself is ok. I also don't think the mantis will hurt the snake at all. I'm just wondering if the snake will try to eat the praying mantis.
>>
>>I'm thinking she probably won't, because I know from experience that she won't eat crickets. I tried to feed her crickets when she was a hatchling, because she was a runt and had a hard time
>>eating pinkies. She didn't have any interest in the crickets at all.
>>
>>Also, she's never eaten anything but frozen pinkies, so she has no experience with live food. I don't feed her in her cage, but in a separate container. Plus, her sight is very bad (has been since she was born), so she "hunts" by smell, not by sight.
>>
>>Anyone have any experience with stuff like this?
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DogStar

"Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed." --Antoine de Saint Exupery

Maybe the mantis can pray for your blind cornsnake.j/k.I use to collect large praying mantis's when i was a kid.I would also catch large wolf spider's and have my own twisted gladiator wars.The praying mantis always won.They do eat meat and i would be worried that the mantis would snack on your corn....Paul.

i have seen a praying mantis eat a good size snake on the discovery channel. sounds like size difference would prevent this from happening to you but i wouldnt risk it.