Difficulty: Intermediate
Size: Both sexes up to 2” (5cm)
Lifespan: males up to 10 months; females up to a year
Recommended enclosure size by instar:
– 1i-3i: 5.5oz deli cup (3×3″/8×8cm)
– 4i-6i: 5.5/16oz deli cup (4×4″/10×10cm)
– 7i-adult: 32oz deli cup or similar sized enclosure (4.5×6″/12×15cm)
Humidity: 60-80%, spray daily or every other day for hydration
Temperature: 77-90°F (25-32°C)
Feeding:
– 1i-2i: D. melanogaster or D. hydei fruit flies
– 3i-5i: D. hydei fruit flies, house flies, small crickets, small roaches
– 6i-adult: blue bottle flies, medium crickets, medium roaches, waxworms/moths, mealworms (as treats only)
Breeding:
Wait until around 2 weeks after final molt before breeding, for both sexes. Both sexes are very aggressive in mating. Care should be taken to avoid injury to either individual when mating.
Keep ooths in the same conditions as the mantises. They will typically hatch in about 3-4 weeks.
Note: These mantises must have round sticks around the same diameter of their body. Without these, they tend to act very stressed and restless which may result in mismolts and death.
Other Resources: