Praying Mantis
Difficulty
Beginner
Size
45cm+ (18”+)
Life Span
Up to 1 year
Diet
Insects
Humidity
60-90%
Temp
25⁰C (77⁰F)
Introduction
Buying any pet is a big decision but there are several things you may want to consider first to make sure that a Mantis is the pet for you:
Are all the people in your household happy with a Mantis coming to live there?
Are you prepared to look after an animal that could live up to 1 year?
Is there someone that you can ask to look after your Mantis if you are away?
Are you happy to keep live insects in your home to feed to your Mantis?
Would you mind owning a species that’s not always easy to handle?
Equipment Needed
Housing
Glass Terrarium
Heating
Heat mat
Lighting
Not Required
Substrate
Sedge Peat, Arcadia Earth Mix or HabiStat Spider bedding
Water
Mist lightly each day
Types
Mantis come in a variety of colours. There are more than 1000 different species available.
Buying Praying Mantis
- Check before buying:
- The Mantis is feeding well
- Any reputable pet shop should be able to provide answers on how often the Mantis is being fed and what type and size of live food it enjoys most.
- The Mantis is healthy.
- 4 point animal health check:
- Make sure the Mantis is alert and responsive
- The skin should be clear of any damage
- The Mantis should be able to manoeuvre around the Terrarium without noticeable issues
- The Mantis should be feeding without issues
Top tips
Provide a suitable background temperature of around 25⁰C (78⁰F) to allow the Mantis to function as normal.You may not see your Mantis drink as they gain most of their moisture/hydration from the insects they eat. Using a hand sprayer a few times weekly on the foliage and branches within your setup will provide another hydration option.Humidity is extremely important for Mantis as it allows them to “molt” efficiently. Generally they will “molt” between 7 and 9 times in order to reach adult size. 9 Use 6-12cms of substrate to allow you to maintain humidity.Housing
A relevant sized Glass Terrarium is the perfect housing solution for a group of Mantises throughout their life cycle.
For Mantis under 1 inch - Mini Glass Terrarium 20x20x30cm
For Mantis over 1 inch - Glass Terrarium 30x30x45cm
Environment
Heating
Originating mostly from a dry tropic environment, Mantis require a suitable background temperature within their enclosure to help them to flourish. Room temperature in most houses will be suitable when in the mid 20’s Celsius, but if the room temperature is lower than 22.5⁰C (72⁰F) a heat mat run on a thermostat should be used to raise the temperature. The heat mat should be located on the outside of the enclosure, either on the back or one of the sides. Do not put the heat mat under the substrate as this will dry the substrate out too quickly. The heat mat should be used in conjunction with a heat mat thermostat. Heat mat thermostats are designed to regulate temperatures using a thermostat probe. Correct placement of the probe is critical to avoid overheating and injury to the Mantis. Insert the probe through the lid of the terrarium and tape directly to the inside of the enclosure adjacent to the heat mat. The probe cable should be taped 2-5cm (1-2”) back from the actual probe sensor to allow for a correct temperature reading and avoid it becoming dislodged.
Temperature and Monitoring
As a rough guide day time and night time temperatures of between 22.5-25⁰C (72-78⁰F) should be provided. Make sure temperatures are checked regularly with a suitable thermometer to ensure that there are no extreme fluctuations.
Lighting
A LED Light should be used with this Mantis to provide a day and night cycle.
Substrates and Decoration
Personal choice will dictate how you decorate your Glass Terrarium but we recommend the following as a guide:
Substrates: Mantis can be housed with Sedge Peat, Arcadia Earth Mix or HabiStat Spider bedding. These substrates will retain essential moisture, helping to maintain humidity levels.
Wood/branches for climbing and hanging on.
Live plants can be used for decoration and to provide darker areas for the Mantis to hang on. Using artificial foliage is perfectly fine.
Diet and Water
Young through to adults should be offered live food. with appropriately sized crickets, calci worms, fruit fly and locust being ideal options. Size of feeder offered in the captive environment will vary depending on the size of Mantis. For example, Mantis smaller than 1 inch will mostly eat fruit fly and hatchling crickets. If you are using a well-ventilated enclosure ensure the substrate and foliage is lightly misted a few times a week. This will not only aid hydration for the Mantis, but humidity will allow the ‘molting’ of the skin. Humidity levels should be kept at around 70% without the substrate becoming overly wet.
Supplementation
Mantis do not require additional supplementation within their diet.
Health & Hygiene
We recommend the following cleaning routine to keep your Mantis healthy and happy:
| Water | Substrate | Enclosure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | Light spraying (As needed to maintain the humidity needs) | Spot clean | Check branches and plants for breakage and stability |
| Weekly | Disinfect water bowl or dish | Agitate substrate to prevent any bacterial build up | Wipe down glass / mesh / walls with a reptile safe disinfectant |
| Monthly | Full or partial substrate change | Carefully wipe down the enclosure with a reptile safe disinfectant- ensuring you do not spray near the Mantis |
Always wash your hands, surfaces and equipment with warm water and disinfectant immediately before and after handling your Mantis, their enclosure and any other equipment.
Additional Information
Most Mantis species live in the Tropic/dry areas.
Female praying Mantis do cannibalize their sex partners. In some cases, she’ll even behead the male before they’ve consummated their relationship.
Praying mantids have a very flexible joint between the head and prothorax that enables them to swivel their heads 180⁰.
FAQs
Bearded Dragons can roughly be broken down into 4 age groups: Babies - Hatchlings to 2 months Juvenile - 2-6 months Sub Adult - 6-18 months Adults - 18 months plus
Bearded Dragons cannot sweat like humans and as a result they open their mouths when they are basking to release excess heat.This behaviour is called gaping.
They will normally grow to 45cm (18”) with males normally being larger than females.
It is best to feed a range of different insects and leafy greens to your Bearded Dragon. Locusts are fine for your dragon to eat but it may get bored of eating the same food every day and refuse to eat.
Your Mantis will live up to 1 year on average..
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