{"id":803,"date":"2020-09-01T07:29:40","date_gmt":"2020-09-01T07:29:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/?page_id=803"},"modified":"2022-04-16T14:30:02","modified_gmt":"2022-04-16T14:30:02","slug":"caring-for-your-mantis","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/caring-for-your-mantis\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring for your mantis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
On this page, I want to talk about the general care of mantises. Despite that mantises are strangely shaped, and extraordinary species, the care of mantis species can be quite easy. While some species can be more difficult than others, several species can easily be kept when you are a beginner in keeping mantises. When following this general guide will help to keep your pet mantis healthy so that you can enjoy these great pets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This page discusses the general care on housing, ambient environment, feeding, cleaning and handling of your mantis. Ready to prepare yourself to be a mantis keeper? Let’s do this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Housing is the fundamental base to keep your mantis healthy. With a proper enclosure you can keep a suitable ambient environment, are you able to easily clean the environment and can you optimal feed your mantis, to ultimately keep your mantis happy and healthy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your mantis needs a suitable enclosure. However, you can choose between different types of enclosures. Which enclosure suits you best depends on your situation and your budget, but also on what you like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whatever enclosure type you choose, always make sure there is enough ventilation to keep your mantis healthy and to prevent rapid growth of mould and bacteria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The size of the enclosure ultimately depends on your species. However, as a rule of thumb, you can use the following guidance: the height of the enclosure should be at least three times the total body length of your mantis species, and at least two times the body length in width. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The height is crucial to make it able for the mantis to shed their skin. It will hang upside down ‘falling out its skin’ to get rid of their old skin. Next to that, a mantis needs enough space to walk around and to be able to hunt prey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some mantis species can be housed in groups. In the case you want to house several individuals, you’ll need a much larger enclosure. Even if these mantises tolerate members of the same species, if they sit too crowded will cause cannibalism. They will compete and eat each other to claim more space. Ghost mantises (Phyllocrania paradoxa<\/em>) and wandering violin mantises (Gongylus gongylodes<\/em>), for example, can be housed in groups in all life stages (always provide enough food is essential to make it more successful). <\/p>\n\n\n\n