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Deaths & injuries covered for this pet up to 7 days after arrival*
£13.99
Cat-eye mantis, Heterochaeta orientalis, are one of the largest & most unique mantis species available, with pointed, cat-like eyes & a stunning threat display. A hardy, unique, and sizeable species of stick mantis hailing from Africa, and a wonderful choice for inexperienced keepers looking for something a little bit different.
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As far as beginner species go, you’ll not find anything more unique than the cat-eye mantis. Heterochaeta orientalis, as it’s scientifically known, is a species of stunning stick-mantis hailing from central Africa. These little critters grow -large-, up to 10-12cm. The origin of its colloquial name originates in the angular, feline eyes that appear almost as little ears atop its head. Cat-eye mantis have an extremely impressive deimatic threat display, in which they reveal their gorgeous amber & red wings to deter predators. These mantis do not have particularly demanding environmental needs, making them a wonderful species for inexperienced keepers.
Cat eye mantis prefer small, flying prey such as wax moths & green/blue bottle flies. Nymphs should be fed D.hydeii fruit flies until they need something larger, in which case aerial prey around 1/3rd the size of the mantis should be readily accepted. Mantids should be fed until the abdomen becomes plump.
These mantids can be kept at a lower humidity level than most species, at about 30% relative humidity. Cat eye mantis can thrive at room temperature, however a supplementary heat mat can be attached to one side of the enclosure if necessary. Cat eye mantis require an enclosure around 3x as tall as their total body length to ensure they can safely molt out of their exoskeleton. A substrate such as moist coco coir or tissue can help to raise & maintain humidity levels if needed.
Heterochaeta orientalis are a difficult species to sex with relatively low sexually dimorphic traits. As with most mantis, females are larger and bulkier than males, with long, thin antennae whereas males have thin bodies and long, thick antennae.
Our Next-Day Guaranteed service promises same-day packing and delivery before 1 pm the following day for all orders placed. For standard livestock delivery, we dispatch orders within 1-5 working days, and once dispatched, your order will arrive in less than 24 hours.
We pride ourselves on our attention to detail- it’s a priority that your critters are safe & snugly packed.
When you receive your order, open it up and locate the transport container your pet is inside. Gently ease out your pet into the home you’ve prepared for it.
Ordering pets online can be nerve-wracking, we get it. Our 7-Day live guarantee is our way to ease nerves over the purchasing process.
We’re confident in the quality husbandry, shipping, and packaging of our livestock. On the rare occasion an animal arrives in poor condition, we will provide credit for the cost of that animal. If all animals in the shipment arrive in poor condition, we will also provide credit for the postage.
We try to make it as easy as possible to help any unwell critters, and ensure you can get your money back. There are a couple of steps to go through before a refund can be issued.
If you’ve received an unwell animal in the mail:
1. If it is safe to do so, (your pet is not medically significant or harmful) please remove the animal from its transport container, ideally onto your hand. We ask this as invertebrates, particularly insects, are experts at ‘playing dead’.
2. To provide you with the best advice going forward and to confirm the condition of your pet, we kindly request a short video of the animal in question before your refund can be processed. This can be uploaded on our ‘live guarantee refunds form’, or you can email it straight to us.
3. We typically respond within 24 hours, but please allow 1-3 working days for a response. Once it’s confirmed that you are eligible for a refund, we’ll get process the credit to your account.
We’ll need this information to reach us within 7 days after you’ve received your pet. We cannot provide any live guarantee to animals that have been refused, returned, or not collected.
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lorrainek –
Bugpets staff was quick to resolve an issue with my order. cat eye mantis was well packed and active. Thanks once again.