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Use distilled water and you shouldn't have that problem.

As much as he needs. It's not a question that can easily be answered. There are just too many variables. 

It is normal coloration and nothing to worry about. When they plump up a little that color becomes visible. 

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A black liquid? Or do you see black in between the abdominal segments?

There are many vendors that sell them. The flightless varieties are much easier to manage. Check the classifieds for vendors. 

I imagine you could use commercially made medium to feed and breed them. Why not just pick up a culture of wingless fruit flies and start breeding them? They are inexpensive. 

Yes. I used to. They do tend to hide a bit more. I prefer fruit flies moving up in size from mels to hydei as the mantids grow. Next can be house and bluebottle flies or you can use crickets or roaches. 

Welcome Spencer. 

Pollen may be beneficial but I am unaware of any evidence indicating it will increase life span. For captive mantids that eat things like crickets and roaches it may be a good supplement in the diet. You can purchase pollen and dust your feeders with it. 

I think it is always best to just leave them be when a molt is imminent as it appears in this case. I keep disturbance to a minimum and don't try to offer food or anything except water. 

Plankton? I'm picturing you out in the water with a plankton net and trying to feed it to your mantids. Never heard the term plankton used in this scenario!

Yes Carolina mantis. I grew up in IL and they were very common. 

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