Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I just rescued a small green mantis today, it is about 2cm in length. I would like to keep it, but I don't have any of the food that it would eat. Should I try my luck at catching fruit flies, or would it have a better chance of surviving out on its own? Any Ideas?

Thanks.

Where do you live? In most places the cold has most likely killed most mantids for this season. Give us more info.

Hey, I live in Australia, it happens to be summer over here, so that would explain the weather. I atempted to feed it two tiny flies (fruit flies?). It didn't eat them. I'm considering letting it go. However for now it is perched amoungst flowers!

Hello,
Ah, you can try to feed it but if it refuses food, its either getting ready to molt or is stressed out. Perhaps if it's still not eating, you can just release him out in yur garden on a flower or something. Then you can check on him frequently. Also of tiems they dont travel very much.

Thanks
Eros JN
www.exoticmantis.com

Thanks for the help, I had to handle it to move it, so I guess it must be stressed. I'll see how it is doing in a few hours and then let it go.

Hmm, It molted, I guess that was why it wasn't feeding!

Glad to hear it!
Keep in mind most mantids produce well over 1,000 young and only approximately 2 make it to adulthood each generation because the rest are killed by mother nature. What that means is (unless a person is really really horrible with mantids) you are far more likely to be sending it to it's death if you let it go "free".
Mantids and Assassins info.

Yeah, I agree. I would keep it in captivity. Alot all mantids have a very aggressive appetite, and you're does too I'm sure. The lack of eating was explained by the molting so all should be well now. Also, based on your concern (enough to come on here and ask how to care for it), I can see you will take good care of it. Just feed it dailiy and spray it with water daily. Thats all they really need to survive. Careful though, they make awesome pets and ya might just find your self wanting another when this one passes away!! Good luck!

Hello,
Glad to hear it molted oaky and now it should be eating again. Let me know how it goes....

P.S- See if you can capture moe young nymphs in your garden.

Thanks
Eros JN
www.ExoticMantis.com

Hey,
I still can't get it to feed, I'm not quite sure what to feed it now.. I've tried small flies, moths, ants and whatever else I can get my hands on, because I don't have any idea where I could buy small insects. Pet shops only sell fully grown crickets and I think those would be a bit too big.
I doubt I could find anymore of the little guys because I think this one found its way inside on a bunch of flowers someone picked.
Thanks, anymore ideas would be great!

Hey,
It still isn't feeding, i've kept it in captivity mainly because of the weather. It has been pretty cold at the moment. I'm thinking that it might be better at catching its food, rather than a human atempting to feed it half dead insects! I don't want it to die from starvation!

Ahh that might be the problem. Have you been trying to feed it just dead insects??? They wont take any feeder unless their alive OR if you're reall good at dangling dead bugs from tweezers in a way that the look alive. Just put the live insects in his cage and he should hunt it down and grab it. Give it a shot.

It is in with two moths right now, though i'm not sure if they eat moths? I haven't been able to get any aphids because it has been raining here and they have all dissapeared, along with most small bugs. Since it has molted, some of the insects i've offered it have been alive. It just doesn't seem too keen on hunting anything down though... Maybe it is traumatised or something :|

It may still be resting from the molt... he will eat any insect that he can grab. I would stay away from ants though, unless he is still small enough to grab them in his arms, otherwise the ants might harm him.

-Andrew

Hey, thanks for the info! It has been about a day since it molted. So I guess I will keep trying, and hope it decides to feed before it starves itself to death..

One, cold spells wont harm them - it can actually help them! On the East coast of the US, the lower temperatures slow the other insects down, enabling the mantis to gorge itself on prey that is too slow to get out of the way. It is at this time, that the adult female gets the energy needed to make the ootheca.

Food size - Yes, live food will get their attention, but they can be trained to take dead insects. Prey of one third to one half their body length can be taken. Care should be taken not to leave them alone with their prey! A cricket can kill a mantis if it isn't eaten.

If you take care of it, feild plankton, or wild caught insects, will be too much trouble. Crickets, waxworms (for a treat, let them pupate into the moth - ooh! they love them!), or mealworms of the tenebrio genus will work. Mealworms require a little encouragement though.

Once you feed it captive bred insects, you are OBLIGATED to never release it! Why? There are illnesses that exist only in captive bred insects, that could harm wild ones. In general, you catch, you keep! Euthanasia by putting in a paper bag, and putting in the ice box, should be performed if you can't care for it any longer.

Not really over 1,000... And something like 5% survive of the most common, temperate climate species.

Though multiple oothecas may be made, only the first one has a high number of offspring in it.

Now, mind you, I chose a screen that was to big when I hatched my first, and a few hundred look like 1,000 when they are crawling accross your bedroom ceiling!