Unreal! Praying Mantis attacks baby tortoise!

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mikeh

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For those who read my other thread, it turns out the fierce mantis will also go after baby torts. I have placed the mantis in my other leopard chamber where she would have more plants to climb on. It appears she attacked the baby leopard.

The tort was napping with its head and limbs out while mantis was up on the plants. Half hour later I come to this. Her claw was stuck inside the torts shell.
1380737702168.jpg1380737715554.jpg

I suppose the mantis stalked the tort while it was asleep and went for its neck. The tort pulled in shut causing the mantis claw get stuck. As the tort would not budge, it took some effort to separate the two without either getting harmed. It took about an hour for the tort to relax, it appears to be fine.

I was aware mantis will go after very small frogs and lizards, but she didn't show any hunting behavior with emys emys, although they are slightly larger.
One fierce, fearless insect!

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thatrebecca

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Wow! That's amazing. We've had a ton of PMs in the yard lately. They're chowing down on my zinnias, but l haven't seen any near my DT enclosure.
 

jjsull33

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Did you catch the mantis? or is it a pet you bought? you mention another thread about it, could I get a link? I love mantids and really want another one, I haven't had one in a few years now.

I am glad your tort is fine, I have seen mantids eat birds so it is good that he is fine.
 

AZtortMom

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I would have killed the mean bug! Poor tort![TURTLE][FLUSHED FACE]


Life is good
 

Jacqui

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I use to really love the mantis until I saw clips of them hunting hummingbirds at the feeder. :(
 

sunshine_hugs

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Wow! That's wild!

I'm so glad your little leopard is fine. I really like the Praying Mantis, but I would hate to see one attacking one of my torts (but I wouldn't want to kill it either)....never would have imagined they would do that!


Jacqui said:
I use to really love the mantis until I saw clips of them hunting hummingbirds at the feeder. :(

WHAT?? They would go after hummingbirds?! I'm so sad to learn all of this! :(
 

jjsull33

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The common mantis can get up to 12 inches tall, and they eat more than their body weight every day, so once they get that big they don't have much choice other than to eat birds and the like, youtube mantis vs bird and you can see for yourself, its not just humming birds either.
 

mikeh

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Re: RE: Unreal! Praying Mantis attacks baby tortoise!

jjsull33 said:
Did you catch the mantis? or is it a pet you bought? you mention another thread about it, could I get a link? I love mantids and really want another one, I haven't had one in a few years now.

I am glad your tort is fine, I have seen mantids eat birds so it is good that he is fine.

It lived around the deck all summer. I brought her inside since she will soon die outdoors.

http://www.tortoiseforum.org/showthread.php?pid=749345#pid749345

Check out her eyes turning pitch black at night.

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Arnold_rules

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This reminds me of some old Japanese monster flick like "Kamacuras vs Gamera". Fortunately, "Ultra Man" stepped in to calm the combatants.

OK, was that a little too 70's nerd coming through?
 

ILoveTortoises2

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WOW.. See I didn't know that they did that. I thought they would of ate small things. Like Frogs, Ect. I NEVER knew they would go after birds. That would be the last thing I would think they went after. Wonder how they do it because the birds are bigger then them
 

mike taylor

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Re: RE: Unreal! Praying Mantis attacks baby tortoise!

Chrisbarrett27 said:
I would have killed that mantis!

Me to hate bugs .

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TommyZ

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Re: RE: Unreal! Praying Mantis attacks baby tortoise!

Chrisbarrett27 said:
I would have killed that mantis!

Most peeps would, but dont forget, they are endangered.
 

Kapidolo Farms

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Re: RE: Unreal! Praying Mantis attacks baby tortoise!

thatrebecca said:
Wow! That's amazing. We've had a ton of PMs in the yard lately. They're chowing down on my zinnias, but l haven't seen any near my DT enclosure.

Maybe you have katydids, mantids eat meat, not plants?

Will
 

Cowboy_Ken

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Arnold_rules said:
This reminds me of some old Japanese monster flick like "Kamacuras vs Gamera". Fortunately, "Ultra Man" stepped in to calm the combatants.

OK, was that a little too 70's nerd coming through?

See, I was reminded of, “Son of Godzilla" a classic.
 

kanalomele

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Cowboy_Ken said:
Arnold_rules said:
This reminds me of some old Japanese monster flick like "Kamacuras vs Gamera". Fortunately, "Ultra Man" stepped in to calm the combatants.

OK, was that a little too 70's nerd coming through?

See, I was reminded of, “Son of Godzilla" a classic.

Ghaaa! Loved those old Ultraman and Godzilla flicks! 70's nerds UNITE!
 
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