KEEPING PRAYING MANTIDS

KEEPING PRAYING MANTIDS

Keep the Praying Mantids in a tall container; a plastic sweet jar is ideal. There is no need to prick air holes - there is sufficient air in the container. Provide twigs, which are almost the height of the jar for the mantis to climb up on; this is essential for it to be able to moult successfully.


TEMPERATURE
The ideal range is 18~ - 30°C.( The lower the temp. the slower the growth rate.) with a regular fine water spray in the cage, without making the cage wet as mould is a potential insect killer.


FOOD
Feed on live foods e.g. flies, maggots, crickets, (locusts, and grasshoppers. Maggots etc. in fact they will eat just about anything they can grab, so watch those finger)


BREEDING
Introduce the male to the female in a large cage, or aquarium after feeding her all she can eat (no easy task). Mating (pairing) may last some hours and only occasionally results in the male being eaten. The female should lay a large spongy egg mass (ootheca) 2 · 4 weeks after mating which will be attached to a twig or stick This can produce between 100 - 300 young, about 4 · 6 weeks after being laid. Young Mantis should be fed on fruit flies, green /black flies or again anything they can grab, micro crickets suit quite a few species shortly after hatching.


Don't hesitate to contact us for more information or questions on the care of particular species.