Common name: Giant African Stick Mantis, Cat-Eye Mantis
Difficulty: Intermediate
Size: both sexes approximately 6” (15cm)
Lifespan: males up to 1.5 years; females up to 2 years
Recommended enclosure size by instar:
– 1i-3i: 16oz deli cup (4×4″/10×10cm)
– 4i-6i: Around 8×8×8″ (12×12×12cm) enclosure minimum
– 7i-adult: Around 12×12×18″ (30×30×45cm) enclosure minimum; larger if keeping communally
Humidity: 40-60%, mist every other day or so for hydration
Temperature: 70-86°F (21-30°C)
Feeding:
– 1i-2i: D. melanogaster or D. hydei fruit flies
– 3i-5i: D. hydei fruit flies, house flies, green bottle flies, small crickets, small roaches
– 6i-adult: blue bottle flies, small/medium roaches, small/medium crickets, wax worms/moths, mealworms (as treats only)
Breeding:
These mantises can be kept communally from the start, allowing them to breed when they’re ready (often 4-6 weeks after maturing). Ensure extra food is offered often as well as extra sticks. Higher temperatures can also help to induce breeding as well as higher humidity.
Females lay up to 8 ooths which hatch in around 4-6 weeks when kept at the same parameters as the mantises. Each ooth can hatch up to 50 nymphs
Notes: These mantises should be given many thin sticks to hang out on, as they would in the wild. Birch sticks are ideal, but any other safe woods can be used.
They are very light eaters. A good schedule for feeding is as follows: 1i-3i – 6-16 fruit flies twice a week; 4i-6i – 4 flies or equivalent 3 times a week; adults – 6 flies or equivalent 3 times a week; doubled for mated females.
They are also very prone to mismolting if not given proper sized enclosures and grip (mesh) on all sides.
Other Resources:
Mantids & More – Lexicon – Heterochaeta orientalis
Mantid Forum – Heterochaeta orientalis