Mesh Terrarium for Mantises and Insects

Such a beautiful spider!

This is absolutely amazing.

Thank you very much. I had a lot of fun putting it all together

I’ll finish one larger project and then plan to come back to this. I want to break it down into smaller parts, make the side panels separate with some kind of click mechanism, and as part of that I’ll also create an A1 Mini version—it should make scaling the dimensions easier.

What exactly do you mean? Like having the option to connect multiple units into one larger one? That’s actually a great idea. Building a system to link the space probably wouldn’t be too hard, but the mesh would be the tricky part. If we wanted to expand vertically, for example, the meshes would need to connect… I’ll think about it. It’s a great idea—thanks for the suggestion.

The A1 Mini version is planned, but I'm currently overwhelmed with work. Hang in there, I'll get to it soon.

What material did you use? I’ve noticed mesh tearing with matte PLA. It helps to let the build plate cool down completely, put it in the freezer, or use compressed air to chill it. It also depends on the build plate—smooth plates work best.

Most importantly, remove it from the build plate slowly and carefully. Don’t pull it off by force. Gently flex the plate and let the mesh peel off gradually.

Which exact parts are missing? It might help to post a screenshot here. The model is designed for a 0.4 mm nozzle; if a larger nozzle is installed in the printer, some parts may be missing because they are too small for the larger nozzle diameter. If a specific part is missing, I would try switching to the Arachne wall generator. Without a more precise description, however, I’m not able to give more specific advice.

I have a 0.4 but when I want to do the sides and the top parts are missing

Hi, this terrarium is designed specifically for mantises. I’ve been keeping my own mantises in it for over a year. The advantage is that it minimizes the risk of falling during molting, which is a common issue with glass terrariums. Thanks to the mesh walls, mold doesn’t form and the terrarium naturally ventilates better. As a substrate, I use exotic bark, some branches, or small potted plants. It just needs frequent misting. I usually mist 1–3 times a day depending on the species of mantis. I also keep stick insects in these terrariums, as they are suitable for them as well. The terrarium is not suitable for insects with strong mandibles (such as grasshoppers, katydids, and similar species), because they can easily chew through the mesh. I would also be cautious about keeping spiders, as tarantulas might be able to open the door. In the future, I’m considering adding a locking system to prevent the panels from being opened.

might i ask what kind of mantises you keep? im considering printing this for my ghost mantis, but i worry about maintaining the humidity

Yes, it shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve tried printing it with PETG and it worked without any issues.