Are Violin Mantids EVER Cannibalistic?

[Mime454]

I have 5 of these, and want to house them communally, but I'm okay keeping them individually too.

Has anyone ever seen cannibalism in this species?

 

[Vlodek]

I personally have never seen any of my nymphs try to attempt to eat its sibling. However, there is a chance. Act of cannibalism often happen when one of the nymphs is much smaller then its siblings or when a nymph attempts to molt and is unfortunate enough to get eaten by another one.

 

[Crazy4mantis]

I would think any species would be cannibalistic if they are hungry and there is a size difference.

 

[Toxic]

Yes they will cannibalise... No species of mantis is truly communal it's just depends on numbers your keeping and acceptable rate of loss....

 

[furrymanmarbles]

toxic is absolutely right.the only thing you can do is make sure there is alittle extra food in there at all times to lowerthe risk of them getting hungry and munching out on another one.but don put too much extra becuase alot of bugs moving around can strss them out and have adverse effects.