•There are many different species of mantids, some need more care than others but this will give the basic advice for most beginner species
•Housing- Small pots about the size of a pint class or 32oz delli pot are ideal for small nymphs to start off with until they grow bigger ,use the pots with fine mesh like nets and use a elastic band to secure it over the top ,When they grow bigger the large sweet jars are good to house adults like the old fashion ones from the sweet shops ,or net cage ,faunaiums from ur local reptile shops ,they need to be at least 3 times the height of wot the mantis is for when it sheds its skin ,in the bottom of the container that the mantis is being kept u can use a compost and vermiculite mix as this keeps humidity up as it will need to kept at about 60% for it to shed ok
•Feeding- fruit flys as a great source of food for small nymphs and micro crickets are good as well but if u can get a good supply of fruits flys that is better ,as they grow u can use large fruit flys , curley winged flys or crickets but try to stay away from the black crickets as they are quit aggressive and can attack ur mantis can cause it damage or even kill it ,some mantids will eat wax worms ,mealworms and small locust and moths that u find around the house
•General care- mantids need to kept warm at room temperature and away from cold drafts ,they need to be kept humid at around 85% and spray them with water every day on warm days or every other day but only use spring water and not tap water as the chlorine can afferct or even kill ur mantis ,feed about 3-4 times a week with just enougth food for that feeding
•General- when a mantis is hatched they are 1st instar and when it sheds it will be 2nd instar and so on ,different species of mantids go thru different amounts of instars but normaly about 8 instars upto adult
•Sexing-females will have 5 or 6 section to there abdomen where as males will have 7 or 8 and the females are generaly much larger than the males ,the life span of ur average ,mantid is about 1 year and some longer
can we plz have this as a sticky as there is to many people asking the same questions about mantids and at least with this people can find out the general info about them ,so if a mod can make this a skicky it would be great , thanks
brilliant idea mate putting up a mantid caresheet as a thread. think the mod should make it a sticky like the thread on "how to sex scorpions":2 thumb:
15-07-2008, 09:49 AM
Praying mantis care sheet
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