Mary Allen
Most animals must be kept in pairs or even in groups. That would not be a good idea for praying mantises: the insects like to eat each other.
Praying mantises, also known as mantis, are one of the most impressive insect species around. Seen up close, they appear delicate and delicate, but they pack a lot of power. There are recordings showing adult females even catching hummingbirds in flight.
In the home terrarium, on the other hand, such dramatic feeding methods are of course not necessary. The live food consists of fruit flies and microcircuits for smaller young animals, crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and similarly large insects for adult specimens. Important: The food animals should always come from the pet shop and not be caught in the wild. They should also not be larger than the abdomen, i.e. the abdomen, of the mantis to be fed.
A Small Terrarium is Enough
“A praying mantis doesn’t need a lot of space. Even a small terrarium with a floor area of 30 square centimeters and a height of 45 centimeters is sufficient,” explains Roland Zobel, from the Fördergemeinschaft Leben mit Heimtiere e.V. (FLH).
“When setting up, make sure there are enough climbing branches and ventilation. A gauze roof provides fresh air and gives the animals the opportunity to find support during pupation and molting.» As a rule, praying mantises should be kept alone, as otherwise, they would like to eat each other.