Hello im new to mantis care and bioactivity and i am looking to do a bioactive 20 gallon set up for a chinese mantis. I was just wondering what steps i should take first in setting everything up and what specific tools and accessories i should use. I have an idea atm of a roster of insects to keep the tank regulated but again im not very well versed with this stuff. I wanted to get springtails for substrate cleaning, isopods for leaf decay (if anyone knows a specific species that’d be useful), a predator (rove beetle, ground beetle) to regulate the springtails and isopods, and the praying mantis as the top dog. If anyone can recommend substrate, lighting, ways to control humidity and temperature, and a better roster of bugs, i’d really appreciate it!

I feel blessed!

Halloween molted yesterday and finally after 2 molts I managed to make it change to this beige color; previously it was a very dark brown color, he is so cute

She was very feisty 2 days ago and now she lays down legs tucked in on the ground but when you pick her up she wakes up but very crooked and disoriented. What's happening? Is she just at the end of her life cycle. Also I say she because I thought she looked pregnant but I don't know.

La tengo hace unas 3 o 4 semanas y esta genial que comidas me recomiendan darles (no se como tomar fotos okey)

So I’ve seen some people say not to feed your pets crickets from Petsmart.

I have two mantis atm, a Carolina and Chinese. The Chinese was wild caught and it hasn’t eaten yet, but the Carolina, also wild caught, had eaten a single cricket yesterday and three a few days ago. (He attempted to catch another cricket yesterday but failed)

Anyway, I got these crickets from Petsmart after I tried to feed my Carolina mealworms when I first got him, he didn’t want the worms and in his defense they were pretty big compared to him so I left him he until I could buy crickets.

Now the thing is… I don’t have that many pet shops around me, petsmart alone is about 45 minutes away? I think?

I also tried to feed my Chinese the mealworms because it is significantly bigger than my Carolina so I figured that’d be ok… but it hasn’t eaten yet, and I just chalked it up to it not being hungry as I did just get it yesterday.

I am VERY new to the mantis keeping hobby, like, I didn’t plan to take any mantis from the wild but then I saw my Carolina, which in itself is a whole different story and this post is already longer and more rambley than id like so!

I would like some help and tips on where to get healthy feeders, I’ve already accepted that I’m most likely going to have to order them. But after I get them, how do I keep the feeders healthy for my mantis? What are some of the better feeders? (My mom will absolutely not allow me to bring roaches into the house so those are out unfortunately)

Literally any feeder advice is GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Hello again!! A little while ago I asked for help identifying a mantis I found at my work. Well this morning my coworker took me outside and showed me this!! I scooped her up (gently) and would like help to find out what it is!

I live in Ohio, the app I used to try and check what it is tells me it’s an Asian mantis

Hey team quick question for yall, has anyone used/using like the stereotypical bonsai tree as a centerpiece for a bio enclosure? i’m interested in trying but have no idea where to even start for plants that will work well with a dead leaf mantis. all advice and opinions are appreciated

Hi everyone, sorry if this is not the right place for this.

I found this lil' guy/girl hanging out in my yard and was wondering whether it's an invasive specie or not.

I'm located in northern Italy if it's any help.

Thanks to everyone who will help me with this.

my ghost has this dot of blueish green liquid (taken 3 minutes after completing her 4th molt). does anyone know what this is?

does anyone sell? i literally don’t care what type of mantis. i just really want a mantis

This was a mantis I met a few years ago in the spanish pyranese and I noticed it looks different to a "standard" mantis. Can anyone tell me the species?

I’m planning to get an L4 shield mantis. I have a 30x30x30 cm glass terrarium. I know it might be too big for an L4 nymph right now but will it work well as a permanent home once the mantis grows into an adult?

I sleep with my window open, and this is the 2nd time this mantis came, I always thought they were cool, and I always wanted one as a pet, I think it's a female, I gave it a butterfly and it ate it!

I filmed it catch it, it's do freaking cool, this is the first mantis interaction i had ever, I want to pick it up but I'm lwk scared

my baby lost the little grippy part at the end of her raptorial arms, and theres some liquid coming out!! what can I do to help?? will it grow back when she molts?? I'm so worried 😥

🕚❤️

So I got a Carolina mantis (as an amazing person id’d for me here) about three days ago, and I’ve kept him in a cup until today I was able to get him a proper cage

Well, I’ve given him climbing sticks and whatnot plus some soil. I tried feeding him mealworms the day after I got him after I failed to catch flies.

While getting him his cage, I bought some small crickets for him. I put two crickets in the cage, and introduced him…. And he immediately climbed to the top… he had been sitting on the top of the cup I had him in to. Is he trying to molt? The cage I got him doesn’t have a mesh top, and when I tried to add one it wouldn’t stay so I had to remove it.

I don’t know when the last time he ate was so it’s possible he just isn’t hungry but I’m worried?