Praying Mantis Care Guide | Orchid Mantis and Giant Chinese Mantis Housing and Feeding Methods
A beginner's guide to keeping praying mantises as pets. Learn about housing requirements and feeding methods for exotic praying mantises like the Orchid Mantis and the Giant Chinese Mantis, including how to source and breed live insects, manage molting, and breeding tips.
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A beginner's guide to keeping praying mantises as pets. Learn about housing requirements and feeding methods for exotic praying mantises like the Orchid Mantis and the Giant Chinese Mantis, including how to source and breed live insects, manage molting, and breeding tips.
Keeping Praying Mantises as Pets? The Surprisingly Deep World of Mantis Care
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The BreederDirect editorial team specializes in care information for animals, covering veterinary care and breeding to deliver beginner-friendly guides.
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Praying mantises are quintessential carnivorous insects, and their unique body shape and hunting behavior captivate observers. In recent years, demand for beautiful exotic praying mantises like the Orchid Mantis has grown, and more people are purchasing individuals from specialized breeders to enjoy keeping them.
Native species like the Giant Chinese Mantis and Korean Mantis can also be captured and kept to enjoy the fascination of nature observation.
Orchid Mantis (*Hymenopus coronatus*) Characteristics and Care
Characteristics: Native to Malaysia and Indonesia. A beautiful mantis with wings that mimic white and pink flower petals. Adult females reach 5-7cm. Their petal-like abdomen is their greatest appeal.
Enclosure: A tall enclosure is necessary (minimum 25cm × 25cm × 40cm height). Sufficient height for molting is important. No substrate or thin paper towels are easiest to manage.
Temperature and Humidity: 25-28°C with 60-80% humidity. Maintain humidity through regular misting.
Feeding: Insectivorous diet. Feed fruit flies (larvae) → crickets → dubia roaches as they grow. Feed every 2-3 days.
Molting Management: They molt while hanging vertically. Do not feed before molting and ensure the enclosure has no obstacles.
Giant Chinese Mantis (Japanese Species) Care
Characteristics: Adults reach 10-12cm with green and brown color morphs. The largest mantis species found throughout Japan.
Container: Insect cage (minimum 30cm width). Adequate ventilation and vertical space are required.
Temperature Control: Can be kept at room temperature (20-30°C). They dislike high heat, so avoid direct sunlight in summer.
Feeding: Offer live insects such as grasshoppers, crickets, isopods, and mealworms. They also eat earthworms (rich in vitamins).
Hydration: Mist the inside walls of the enclosure daily to create water droplets that the mantis can drink.
Common Precautions
Preventing Cannibalism: Mantises are cannibalistic. As a rule, keep one mantis per enclosure.
Escape Prevention: Mantises move quickly and will escape through gaps. Use an enclosure with a tightly closing lid.
Never Touch During Molting: Molting mantises are extremely vulnerable. Touching them can cause molting failure, which is fatal.
Breeding (Orchid Mantis)
House mature males and females together for mating. After mating, the female may eat the male, so brief cohabitation with well-fed individuals is recommended. Eggs are laid in an egg case (ootheca), which will hatch if temperature and humidity are maintained.
Conclusion
Mantis keeping is a hobby full of the joy of observation and management—from sourcing live insects to managing molting and timing feedings. Enjoy life with these distinctive "hunters," from beautiful exotic mantises to familiar native species.
