HELP! Care for Mantis Religiosa (European) Nymphs

[ScienceGirl]

As many of you now know, I've found a Mantis Religiosa (European Mantis) nymph. I'm not sure as to what instar it's in, but it is a little longer than 1 inch. Any ideas as to instar? I also counted 6 segments, so unless it's still too early to tell, it's a female.

I fed it two flies last night and misted the enclosure this morning, adding another fly afterwards.

Having never kept the nymphs of this species, only adults, I'm not sure on the particulars of its care (misting, feeding, ventilation, humidity, temp)...

Help me? ?

 

[hierodula]

Nothing really special. Typical house requirements, mist every other day. Room temp is prefectly fine

 

[ScienceGirl]

Okay, thank you.

S/he is currently living outside in a tall net cage. If I'm going to breed it, it needs to be maturing at the same rate of the other nymphs outside. The nymph has potted wild grass to climb on, too. I've been removing the nymph for feeding and putting her in a smaller plastic cage for hunting. I also mist the nymph for hydration purposes.

 

[Sticky]

Sounds like she is getting great care!

 

[ScienceGirl]

The only thing I'm really concerned about is how much to feed him/her. If it's a male, we can't have him growing up and dying too soon! If it's a female, well, it wouldn't do for her to grow up way before the eligible suitors can waltz on over.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Any ideas on how much a 1" nymph would eat daily in the wild? :helpsmilie:

 

[hierodula]

Just feed it enough to make it plump then wait a few days and let it thin out again. Making sure the mantis is plump as opposed to fat is important. And dont worry about it growing too fast, cause in the wild, adult mantids pop up over the course of several months, so youll be fine.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Just feed it enough to make it plump then wait a few days and let it thin out again. Making sure the mantis is plump as opposed to fat is important. And dont worry about it growing too fast, cause in the wild, adult mantids pop up over the course of several months, so youll be fine.

Plump, not fat, then let it become thinner. Got it. Thank you. Will this "thinning out" make it harder for the nymph to gain enough energy and size to molt?

 

[Ranitomeya]

Mantids don't really get fat as nymphs. They eat, they grow, and then they molt. Putting a nymph on a diet is sort of like starving a growing baby. Feeding and then starving them will prolong their time as a nymph and they'll end up using up any stored energy to keep themselves alive as opposed to getting them to the next instar.

 

[ScienceGirl]

Mantids don't really get fat as nymphs. They eat, they grow, and then they molt. Putting a nymph on a diet is sort of like starving a growing baby. Feeding and then starving them will prolong their time as a nymph and they'll end up using up any stored energy to keep themselves alive as opposed to getting them to the next instar.

How often and how much do you propose I offer the nymph daily? As said before, I do not want it to mature faster than the majority of wild mantids, so this is basically an estimate of how much the wild mantids eat daily.

 

[Ranitomeya]

Their diets in the wild vary greatly in both frequency and size of prey. I'm not sure I can accurately provide an estimate of how much the average mantid eats in the wild. I'd suggest looking outside and seeing how often insects might land on the higher parts of shrubbery and take a guess at how frequently a mantid would encounter and capture them.

 

[Sticky]

Dont forget the honey and other yummies! Feeding it honey with a toothpic will teach it to calm down if you handle it every day.

 

[ScienceGirl]

I think it's a male... There seem to be extra sections, and it is a very flighty nymph.