The praying mantis is an amazing insect that is widespread throughout the world. You can make a praying mantis a pet that is easy to care for. Praying mantis come in various colors, including pink, white, green, and brown. The types of praying mantis species you can keep will depend on where you live and whether the praying mantis were taken from the wild or an exotic pet store. Raising a praying mantis is quite simple and a lot of fun once you learn about the cage and the food it needs.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Capturing the Praying Mantis
Step 1. Prepare a cage that is 3 times the length and 2 times the width of the praying mantis
For example, you can use a small vivarium. Make sure the cage has a tight seal and sails so air can flow in and out smoothly. This cage can be made of plastic, glass, or gauze, as long as it has holes in the top for ventilation.
- The entire cage can be made of gauze as long as the praying mantis is an adult because he will like to roost there. However, this cage would not be suitable for a young praying mantis as it would be able to escape through the screen.
- For young praying mantis, you can even use food jars as long as the top lid has holes for air vents.
- You can also cut a large hole in the center of the plastic cap. Then, spread a piece of paper towel over the jar opening before attaching the lid. That way, your container has ventilation and the praying mantis has something it can roost with.
- However, the cage should not be too big because it will be difficult to hunt for food.
Step 2. Place a substrate such as sand or loose soil at the bottom of the cage
Although not mandatory, the substrate will absorb some of the water poured into the cage and release it into the air more slowly. What's more, the cage will be easier to clean because all you have to do is remove the old substrate and put in the new one. The thickness of the substrate in the cage should be no more than 2.5 cm.
You can even just use a tissue
Step 3. Add the trunk and bark to make the praying mantis feel like it's in its own habitat
Place the sticks at various angles so the grasshoppers can climb on them. You can also include bark and rocks, if you wish. A praying mantis will be happy if its cage contains lots of natural objects in which it can crawl. Make sure at least one log rises near the top so that the grasshopper has plenty of room in the cage when it sheds its skin.
You can also sprinkle dry leaves or even flower petals
Step 4. Keep the grasshopper cage moist by spraying it with water every day or placing a bowl of water in it
Praying mantis don't really need drinking water, but it's best to put a bowl of water in the grasshopper's cage. The water will keep the air moist enough for the praying mantis. You can also use small bottle caps.
- Otherwise, spray a small amount of water on the praying mantis cage once a day.
- If you have grasshopper eggs, spread a damp tissue over the bottom of the cage.
Step 5. Keep the cage temperature at room temperature
For most species, you can keep them anywhere in the house, as long as the temperature is 20-25 degrees Celsius. However, check your species-related information, as some prefer warmer temperatures, up to 32 degrees Celsius. If so, you can use a set of heating lamps and set them 30 cm above the cage.
If you're using a heating lamp, check the temperature of the praying mantis cage with a thermometer to make sure it's not too hot
Step 6. Put the praying mantis in a separate cage
If you put several praying mantises in one cage, they can eat each other because sometimes these insects are cannibals. So, it's best to keep several praying mantises in separate jars or cages, and only combine them when breeding them.
If you have just hatched praying mantis, feel free to keep them in one cage. However, separate when the grasshopper is getting older
Method 2 of 4: Feeding the Grasshopper
Step 1. Give 2 live insects to the praying mantis every 2 days
Praying mantis should not eat dead insects. The praying mantis prey must be alive and moving to attract its attention. You can keep a live insect colony at home as a locust food supply, or simply catch live insects from your yard or garden. In addition, the praying mantis only needs to be fed every 2 days or even every 3 days if on the second day he has not caught the food you gave him.
Adult female grasshoppers need more food than adult males
Step 2. Use freshly hatched fruit flies or praying mantis gnats
You can buy dead fruit flies online or at places that sell insect or reptile food. These little flies are perfect for baby grasshoppers because they won't leave the house! However, if you already have fruit flies in your house, you can catch them to give to the praying mantis.
- To catch fruit flies, poke a hole in the top of the plastic container. Put the fruit in the container, which will attract flies. When there are enough fruit flies, cover and place the entire container in the freezer for a few minutes, which will immobilize them. Then, drop the fruit flies into the praying mantis cage. The fruit flies will be back on the move soon enough.
- You can use any small insect found in your home or garden, including gnats and fleas.
Step 3. Determine the size of the praying mantis based on the size of the adult mantis forearm
The praying mantis eats live insects and usually grips it with its forearm making it suitable as a benchmark for the size of food needed. Juvenile praying mantis can use small cockroaches or crickets, as well as house flies. As the praying mantis grows, increase the size of its food.
You can buy all of these at a pet reptile store, but you can also try catching them yourself
Step 4. Monitor the praying mantis' food to make sure it doesn't run away
Some prey, such as cockroaches or caterpillars, tend to hide, and praying mantises don't chase them. If the praying mantis doesn't eat the insects, try something more mobile, such as crickets or flies, and see if the praying mantis will hunt them down.
You can also hold the food with tweezers so the praying mantis can grab it right away
Step 5. Remove any insects that the praying mantis won't eat
Large insects can injure the praying mantis if they are not eaten. So, if the praying mantis doesn't seem interested in its food for 15-30 minutes, it's best to remove the insect food. In addition, remove the leftover grasshopper food from the cage every day. The praying mantis is a messy animal, and any parts of the insect's body that it doesn't like will be left lying on the floor of the cage, such as the legs, wings and hard parts.
- When this garbage accumulates, the praying mantis will be stressed and uncomfortable in its artificial environment.
- When cleaning up food debris, remove the praying mantis droppings, which are usually granular.
Method 3 of 4: Cleaning the Cage
Step 1. Temporarily transfer the praying mantis to a closed container
The praying mantis is a fragile animal, even though it looks strong. Don't try to hold it so it doesn't hurt. Instead, let the grasshopper crawl onto your hand and guide it into another container so you can clean the cage. It's best if you feed the praying mantis beforehand as it will be more docile and won't take your hand as prey.
- Be patient! The praying mantis will eventually crawl into your hand if you keep holding it out. Usually, he will just perch on the fingers or palms. You can even take it out even if you don't clean the cage.
- The praying mantis has wings when it grows up, which means it can fly. If you want to handle it, close all doors and windows before removing it from the cage.
- Do not touch the praying mantis while it is molting. You can hurt him!
Step 2. Remove the substrate so you can scrub and dry the cage
Dispose of the substrate in the trash and rinse off any debris. Then, scrub the cage with hot water. If you have a glass enclosure, you can place it in the sink and disinfect it with boiling water. However, make sure you wait for the cage to cool before handling it!
- It's best not to use detergent, but if the cage is very dirty, add 1-2 drops of liquid dish soap. Make sure you rinse the cage completely.
- After that, dry it and put the new substrate in the cage.
Step 3. Add springtail insects to the soil substrate to help clean the cage
If you see a lot of feces or even mildew on the substrate, simply throw it away and replace it with a new one. However, you can also include small insects called springtails. These critters will deal with faeces and mold, and effectively clean the cage.
You can find these insects online or at pet reptile shops
Step 4. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you're done
Scrub your hands with warm water and soap, and make sure you also clean between your fingers. Then, rinse thoroughly. Like most animals, praying mantises can pass bacteria on to you.
Method 4 of 4: Caring for a Praying Mantis that Moults
Step 1. Do not feed the praying mantis just before molting
Grasshoppers may appear fatter than usual because new skin is growing behind the old skin. What's more, it will stop eating and try to scare away the bugs you give it. You will also notice cloudiness in the skin and large bumps on the wings. Praying mantis can experience lethargy/lethargy.
- If a praying mantis has wings, it will reach the final stage of molting and no longer shed its skin.
- If you think the praying mantis is about to shed its skin, take all the insects out of the cage as they will eat the praying mantis skin and knock it off the perch.
Step 2. Leave the cage while the praying mantis is molting
Insects will hang head over heels on a perch or screen. If you move the cage, the grasshopper may fall and get injured. In fact, if the praying mantis fell, his chances of survival were only 25%. Moulting only takes 20 minutes, but the praying mantis will not dry completely for 24 hours.
Step 3. Provide a humid environment if you notice any missing grasshopper legs
Praying mantises can lose their legs for a variety of reasons, including low humidity in the cage while molting. If your grasshopper loses its legs after molting, try increasing the humidity by spraying the cage more often or placing a bowl of water in it. Then, grasshopper legs will grow again at the next molt.
If you think your praying mantis is dying because only half of it has come out of its skin, you can put it in the freezer to humanely euthanize it
Tips
- If you often see praying mantises in your area, try catching these insects from the wild. Usually you can find them in late summer. The praying mantis is usually 7.5 cm long. Most praying mantises have a brown or green color like leaves or twigs so that they blend in well with their environment. Lure the praying mantis into the container with a stick, or by hand if that's okay. You can also use a net to catch them.
- If you can't find a praying mantis or you don't have one nearby, visit a pet store to find the species of praying mantis you want. This store may offer a wider variety of species, depending on the laws in force in your country. If you buy a praying mantis, it is usually sold as a nymph. Each nymph is confined in a small container.
- With proper care, praying mantis can live up to 1 years, although this is rare and depends on the species.
- One egg can contain 75-250 baby praying mantis each so be prepared if you want to incubate them.
Warning
- Do not release alien species of praying mantis in your wild because it can damage the ecosystem around your home.
- Make sure you don't touch the praying mantis while it is molting.
- Wash your hands after handling the praying mantis, its cage, or its cage accessories.
