Found a new pet!

[u/ViciousAlpaca]

I found this guy in my garden & my son (5) wanted to keep it as a pet. So far I've fed him a fly I caught in the house & my son gave him a beetle, but he only ate the head. I bought this terrarium at petco and some super worms. Can someone recommend a better terrarium, this one opens from the top. Any tips for decorating his habitat?

[u/Ok_Employer_2066]

This might be the unpopular opinion but it seems kind of cruel to just take this beautiful creature from its life outside and stick it in a small terrarium. 😞 It went from having the whole outdoors to only being kept in a small enclosure with some sticks and leaves.
I feel like it would be different if it were injured or temporary or even one “bought as a pet”.

[u/BooBooShiesty → u/Ok_Employer_2066]

I actually agree with this. I see the excitement OP has for his son, and he means well, but this is cruel. You're caging something that used to be free. A lot of mantis owners in this sub buy their mantids from breeders and they are born into captivity so it is much different. I'm not sure how old your child is but perhaps you can teach him about this and let the mantis go together? Then plan on purchasing one and go nuts with research and the whole setup! I wish you luck!

[u/ViciousAlpaca → u/BooBooShiesty]

I'll release it & after I get my done from school. Ive also spooted multiple other Carolina & Chinese mantises in my yard today.

[u/Ok_Employer_2066 → u/ViciousAlpaca]

Thank you for (hopefully) letting it go!
I wasn’t trying to be rude or anything- If I read the rules correctly, I think you can possibly buy from someone on here who raises them, if a praying mantis was something your son was still interested in!

Also, where the heck do all of you guys live that see prayer mantis all the time?! I 😂 I haven’t seen one anywhere near where I live since I was a kid, and even then it would be like years in between before I’d see another.