Classical conditioning video - Where Responsible Reptile Keepers Connect!

razeraze · #1 (**permalink**) 05-07-2008, 10:27 PM

I finally found the video of my fiance and I training the mantids we had 3 years ago.

YouTube - Mantis conditioning.

seamushunter · #2 (**permalink**) 05-07-2008, 10:49 PM

sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

razeraze · #3 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 12:25 AM

Here are some still shots:

ssjsmits · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 02:08 AM

That's pretty cool Tom.

razeraze · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 03:54 AM

Thanks buddy.

pythonguy21 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 05:33 AM

training them to do what?

razeraze · #7 (**permalink**) 05-08-2008, 11:22 AM

Rachel and I taught them to fly to us on cue. Eventually holding out our hand or arm and making those clicking noises got the mantids to fly to us. We started out close distances like in the video but eventually had them do it from their cages and from my fiance's arm to my arm.

BWSmith · #8 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pythonguy21

training them to do what?

Exactly. It is not really training them, it is just interpreting natural behavior as something more than it is. It is a mantids instinct to hop up to a higher perch. You can probably get the same reaction from a wild mantid fresh out of the yard. That is why every time a kid catches a praying mantis, it ends up on their head.

jen723 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-12-2008, 01:44 PM

Reminds me of when I was cutting flowers in our garden and I felt something hop onto my hand. Before I knew there were two gigantic praying mantis(es?) right on top of my head. My friend who was with me was taller than I was, so soon they were on her head. Neat critters.

razeraze · #10 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BWSmith

Exactly. It is not really training them, it is just interpreting natural behavior as something more than it is. It is a mantids instinct to hop up to a higher perch. You can probably get the same reaction from a wild mantid fresh out of the yard. That is why every time a kid catches a praying mantis, it ends up on their head.

Actually for a long time they would fly every where but to us. So we started at closer distances and gradually built trust and their attention. Getting them to fly to us instead of all over the room was much more difficult than you would think.

BW much of conditioning is taking a natural response and just improving on it. Much like teaching horses to run collected or grey hounds to race. They have it in them but repetition through conditioning gets them to do it repeatedly with out getting sidetracked.