(General care for most beginner species, see species specific guides)
Humidity: Can vary a lot, but often around 50-70% works for most basic species.
Temperature: Room temperature; 68-80°F (20-27°C); nights cooler than days.
Feeding:
– 1i-2i: Drosophila melanogaster or D. hydei fruit flies.
– 3i-5i: D. hydei fruit flies, house flies, small roaches/crickets.
– 6i-adult: House flies, blue bottle flies, medium/large roaches, medium/large crickets, waxworms/moths.
(If feeding crickets, make sure that they are kept very clean and fed very clean.)
Feeding frequency: As a general rule, feed when the abdomen looks thin. The frequency can vary based on species, instar, sex, temperature, etc. Generally, feed 1i-2i every day to every other day, 3i-5i every 2-3 days, and 6i-adult every 3-5 days. Unmated adult females and adult males should be fed less often.
Minimum enclosure size: At minimum 3x taller than body length and 2x wider than body length.
Other enclosure notes: Ensure that there is mesh (fabric, plastic mesh, or shelf liner) at the top of the enclosure as well as an open space below that which is at least two times the length of the mantis to allow for proper molting. At least one side of the enclosure should have a gripping surface such as mesh on it. Ensure there are different surfaces like sticks of varying widths.
Substrate: Substrate like coco fiber, bioactive substrate, peat moss, sphagnum moss, etc. can be used as well as paper towel. It is possible to keep mantises bioactive with springtails and/or dwarf isopods (not Porcellio spp. isopods as they can be a risk to a freshly molted mantis); if it is not bioactive, then the substrate should be changed or spot cleaned as needed.
Breeding: Depending on species, you should wait 2-5+ weeks (or preferably when the female starts calling) after the final molt before attempting to mate a mantis. Feed the female well before attempting and make sure she is eating before introducing the male so she is distracted.
Keep ooths in the same conditions as the mantises. The time it takes to hatch as well as the amount of nymphs in each ooth varies based on species.
Recommended beginner species:
Stagmomantis spp. (S. limbata, S. carolina, S. wheelerii/californica, S. floridensis) – Carolina Mantis, Bordered Mantis, California Mantis, Larger Florida Mantis
Hierodula spp. (H. membranacea, H. majuscula, H. venosa) – Giant Asian Mantis, Giant Rainforest/Australian Mantis, Giant Yellow Asian Mantis
Sphodromantis spp. (S. kersteni, S. aurea, S. lineola) – Giant African Mantis, Common Green Mantis
Popa spurca – African Twig Mantis
Rhombodera spp. (R. basalis, R. megaera, R. stalli, R. latipronotum) – Giant Shield Mantis
Parasphendale spp. (P. agrionina, P. affinis) – Budwing Mantis
Creobroter spp. (C. gemmatus, C. pictipennis, C. urbanus, etc.) – Asian Flower Mantis, Malaysian Flower Mantis, Indian Flower Mantis, Jeweled Flower Mantis, etc.
Phyllocrania paradoxa (syn. P. illudens) – Ghost Mantis