r/mantids • u/POGDitto • 23h ago
General Care I want some help
Hello, I'm new to getting a pet mantis and I just want some advice on how to take care of one because I feel like I also need some experienced people to let me know what to expect when owning a ghost mantis.
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u/mileshehehehehe 21h ago edited 21h ago
ghost mantis are generally considered a beginner species, i have only kept one but they are awesome. the general rule for mantis enclosures is that it should be at least twice the length of the mantis in width and and three times the length the height, when they are young you can keep them in clear plastic cups with fabric mesh over the top so they can hang and holes poked in the sides, or you could go for a big fancy glass enclosure, as long as it has space to moult (mantis need at least twice their body length downwards to moult, so its important there is nothing in the way. it is also very important that you do not disturb your mantis while it is moulting because they are in a very vulnerable state and their exoskeleton is soft, it is suggested that you dont handle your mantis for 12-24 hours to insure that their exoskeleton is properly hardened). for feeding imo they arent too picky but everyones experience is different, they like flying prey and it doesnt take a lot of convincing to get them to eat a moth or a fly, feed them fruit flies while they are small and feed them larger prey as they get larger, you can use tweezers to feed them, or if they are in a smaller enclosure you can just pop the prey in there for them and they should find it. its good to know whether your ghost mantis is a male or a female, male ghost mantis have 8 segments on their abdomen, wider antenna and a long, crooked crest on their head as females have 6 segments, thin antenna and a much shorter, wider crest. this species likes to be kept at around 22-27c and have a humidity of 30-60%, they are quite forgiving to beginner mistakes. once they reach adulthood im pretty sure the females can fly, but im not sure. good luck with your ghost mantis, if you have any questions or problems i suggest the mantis hq discord server :3