LAME's Experience.
Temperature: 80°F - 105°F
Humidity: 70% - 90%
Prey:
L1 - Fruit flies.
L2/Adulthood - house flies, moths, green/blue bottle flies, bees, wasps, Dubai roaches, lobster roaches, and Madagascar hissing roaches. (Babies/smaller nymphs only.)
Prey to avoid: Crickets. Do not feed them crickets.
Molt time very dependant upon feeding (Meal sizes/how often.) and also heat. Come later instars you can delay molt times by feeding less (keeping them SLIM...Not starving. ) and dropping heat to 80°F
You can also reverse it and speed molt times so they will molt quicker.
ALSO NOTE: Come later instars (Presub,Sub,Final molt.) If you're like me and watch your idolos closely , you notice swelling around the jaw, mouth,and budwings of the mantid. Once you pick up on it, you can judge your molt window (and PREPARE.) for those final sheds.
Housing/molt surface:
Materials Needed:
Hot glue sticks/Gun.
Rubberized shelf liner.
Polyester mesh.
Tape. (Clear packing tape. Not regular. )
Time.. and a little patience.
L1/L5 - Modified "Idolo Friendly" 32oz deli container will work. Hot gluing rubberized shelf liner on the inside walls and lid is ideal.
L5/Adulthood - Modified "Idolo Friendly" builds. (5 gallon/ desired.) I personally use 10 and 20 gallon. Idea remains the same, however.
--- IMPORTANT: Before wasting your time and supplies, take the time out and tape all edges of the inside of the tank. Without doing so when the glue hardens it will simply peel off in a day or so..
ALSO NOTE: Come the last few molts I add in polyester mesh. Combined with the rubberized liner, so far has been a godsend on my end.
Lifespan - 1 year, Give or take a few months. Males perish 1-3 months after reaching adulthood.