Price : $14.99
Feature Fascinations GreenEarth Praying Mantis Kit
- Interactive, educational, and non-violent
- Learn all about life cycles and biology while discovering the fascinating miniature world of live insects
- Nature kits created to hatch and grow live insects
- Learn about the life cycle, biology and care of insects
- Fascinations designs product to illustrate many magical aspects of our world
This review is from : Fascinations GreenEarth Praying Mantis Kit
I'll let you in on some secrets . Ok, first of all, if you're interested in owning and raising mantids, this isn't necessarily the best place to start. If you don't already know, this product comes with the housing, a pipette, a pair of forceps, and a magnifying glass. It comes with some very interesting information as well as suggestions on where you can order an ootheca (mantis egg sac), but that is a separate cost and when you receive that ooth after ordering depends entirely upon what time of year you order it because you're really relying on nature and mantids lay oothecae in approximately the third week of fall. Theoretically, based on the information provided with the kit, you could go find your own ootheca in nature and hatch it at home (that is, of course, if you want to have a couple hundred babies around to take care of). Sounds overwhelming for a beginner.
This container would be ideal for perhaps an adult mantis but not a nymph. Not only that, you can buy the same thing here:[...] although at ikea, it's for laundry. Ha!
Frankly, what I suggest instead is going to two websites: mantisplace.com and mantidforum.net. Between those two, you can acquire all the knowledge you need to raise a mantis with the Appropriate materials, which, for a nymph will probably involve a simple plastic container you can buy at the grocery store.. Not only that, you can also choose between a multitude of amazing species!
I'll let you in on some secrets . Ok, first of all, if you're interested in owning and raising mantids, this isn't necessarily the best place to start. If you don't already know, this product comes with the housing, a pipette, a pair of forceps, and a magnifying glass. It comes with some very interesting information as well as suggestions on where you can order an ootheca (mantis egg sac), but that is a separate cost and when you receive that ooth after ordering depends entirely upon what time of year you order it because you're really relying on nature and mantids lay oothecae in approximately the third week of fall. Theoretically, based on the information provided with the kit, you could go find your own ootheca in nature and hatch it at home (that is, of course, if you want to have a couple hundred babies around to take care of). Sounds overwhelming for a beginner.
This container would be ideal for perhaps an adult mantis but not a nymph. Not only that, you can buy the same thing here:[...] although at ikea, it's for laundry. Ha!
Frankly, what I suggest instead is going to two websites: mantisplace.com and mantidforum.net. Between those two, you can acquire all the knowledge you need to raise a mantis with the Appropriate materials, which, for a nymph will probably involve a simple plastic container you can buy at the grocery store.. Not only that, you can also choose between a multitude of amazing species!
Fascinations GreenEarth Praying Mantis Kit Reviews
READ BEFORE BUYING - BUYER BEWARE!! . The reviews for this item aren't the same as the product itself. This is a cool kit and the enclosed materials are really well done. However, it doesn't say that the praying mantis eggs aren't included with the kit. I totally understand that the eggs can't be packaged with the kit since they are alive. What I wasn't expecting was to have to pay another $12.95 to get the eggs. What I really wasn't expecting is that the eggs are only available January-April. So, my daughter spent several weeks of saved allowance on this kit only to find out that she can't do anything with it for 5 months. Really disappointed that this wasn't explained before they relieved an 8 year old of her allowance.
READ BEFORE BUYING - BUYER BEWARE!! . The reviews for this item aren't the same as the product itself. This is a cool kit and the enclosed materials are really well done. However, it doesn't say that the praying mantis eggs aren't included with the kit. I totally understand that the eggs can't be packaged with the kit since they are alive. What I wasn't expecting was to have to pay another $12.95 to get the eggs. What I really wasn't expecting is that the eggs are only available January-April. So, my daughter spent several weeks of saved allowance on this kit only to find out that she can't do anything with it for 5 months. Really disappointed that this wasn't explained before they relieved an 8 year old of her allowance.
Fascinations GreenEarth Praying Mantis Kit Opinions
Waited a month for this now have to wait for mantis eggs. . Wasn't sure why Amazon sat on this order for almost a month. I thought being a kit it would include everything you need. But, NO. Now I have to shell out more $$ for the eggs and wait a few more weeks. This is very difficult to explain to a 4 year old. Suppose we can use the "kit" to hatch butterflies when we are through with the mantis eggs...
Waited a month for this now have to wait for mantis eggs. . Wasn't sure why Amazon sat on this order for almost a month. I thought being a kit it would include everything you need. But, NO. Now I have to shell out more $$ for the eggs and wait a few more weeks. This is very difficult to explain to a 4 year old. Suppose we can use the "kit" to hatch butterflies when we are through with the mantis eggs...
Great house for any insect . This is the habitat only, (as stated, you must send in the coupon for the insect(s) plus shipping. If you are ordering this for the praying mantis, make sure you order by April, so you can get the egg cases sent to you before they are out of stock). This is well made and easy enough for a 5 year old to get in and out of to take care of the praying mantis. Its nice because it has a zipper at the top for smaller opening. It has handles to hang as well. The screen is small enough to allow oxygen in and keeps the insects inside nicely. Great for educational learning about nature and other creatures. This can be used over and over again for other purposes as well.
great educational toy and slightly better than other choices . I actually liked this version of the butterfly kit more than competitors because it's better made and has all those little things like tweezers, magnifying glass, etc. and a very educational booklet. Although it costs a little to send for the caterpillars, why bother when it's so easy to find caterpillars! (searching for the caterpillars adds another level of education because you need to think of their natural habitats). Enjoy!
Great idea - Extra $ to buy caterpillars . I bought this and the Butterfly Pavilion for about the same price. This kit you need to buy the caterpillars separately for $10. It doesn't say that on the write up and I swear it said caterpillars included when I bought this a few weeks ago or I wouldn't have bought it b/c I was looking specifically for one that includes the cost of the caterpillars.
If you are choosing between the two, go for the Butterfly Pavilion that includes the caterpillars in the cost of the kit. (be careful - there are two of those too - one doesn't include the price of the caterpillars).
Overall, the idea is great - my son did the butterfly pavilion last year and LOVED it. I would not get this one as a gift b/c there are extra costs, unless you send away for the caterpillars for them.
It has a nice instruction book in several languages.
If you are choosing between the two, go for the Butterfly Pavilion that includes the caterpillars in the cost of the kit. (be careful - there are two of those too - one doesn't include the price of the caterpillars).
Overall, the idea is great - my son did the butterfly pavilion last year and LOVED it. I would not get this one as a gift b/c there are extra costs, unless you send away for the caterpillars for them.
It has a nice instruction book in several languages.
Fun Effective Habitat for Critters . This habitat works well for praying mantises as well as caterpillars/butterflies, or any other little creepy crawly your kids manage to find. The nylon mesh on the sides makes it easy for the critters to crawl up the sides. The clear plastic top makes it easy for little ones to observe the activity inside. I had some mantises in a plastic bucket and they aren't as happy as the ones in this habitat.
How to hatch . I bought another version of this, maybe different company, but the house/cage looks the same. Unfortunately we too bought it off season, in May and had to wait almost a year to order an eggsack and had to pay extra. However, once we got one after a few weeks we had HUNDREDS of mantis! We let them go outside within a few days, otherwise you have to find small bugs (like aphids) to feed them and they still eat each other. We tried to keep one, but it disappeared. We assumed it somehow got out (they are only about an inch long). We hoped we would see lots in our yard over the summer, but we think we let them go too early in the season. I would recommend once you get the eggsack keep it outside so that they hatch when they normally would in your climate.
Sad but true . I would have to say this mantis kit was a true disappointment!!!! I would not recommend this product!!! The Kit imply's that the bugs come with it. Please understand I did not expect for the live bugs to be in the box, but I at least expected a mailer for the bugs to be included like the lady bug or butterfly kit. Instead we extremely disappointed to find a mailer to purchase the bugs for and additional $12 for a total. My grand total for this purchase was $30. Its sad the company sells a "pop up"bug hut that retails for around $8 bucks and purchased bugs for $10 at my local garden center for a grand total of $18. This is not worth the price.
Cons Review
Awesome Praying Mantis Kit . Our entire family has loved raising our mantis! My only reccomendation is that as the mantis grow, another mesh container or similar may be necessary.
Product Details
EAN : 0032309891010UPC : 032309891010
MPN : 4434
Brand : Fascinations
Weight : 1 pounds
Height : 2 inches
Length : 12 inches
Width : 12 inches
Binding : Toy
Manufacturer : Fascinations
Manufacturer Maximum Age : 83.333333333333 years
Manufacturer Minimum Age : 3 years
Model : GE101
Publisher : Fascinations
SKU : 10961
Studio : Fascinations
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Where To Buy
You can buy Fascinations GreenEarth Praying Mantis Kit on Amazon . Click here to Read More
