L2 Twig mantis care

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snuhan

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Hello! I recently acquired my second mantis, a twig nymph! I was looking for a ghost mantis at my local reptile convention, but the vendor that typically sold them wasn't there this time around ;-; However, another vendor was there as it always was, selling less... conventional? Species. I don't quite remember the name, it was run by an older couple? They sold loads of bugs and tarantulas, neat stuff! But the wife had apparently *just* hatched a load of twig mantises! She told me they were L2, but I think they were L1- mine molted about four days after I bought it. I was wondering why it was barely the size of an ant... 

But, now I have a twig mantis! It seems to be doing just fine in current conditions (my room is a bit on the chilly side, but that hasn't seemed to slow her down any), and also appears to be quite the eater. I just wanted to ask if there was anything quite unique about this mantid in terms of care? I admit I hadn't done much prior research on them, so I'm a bit worried now, haha.

Last thing, when I bought the mantis it was in a little sauce cup, as the woman told me they hadn't been too successful in larger enclosures just yet. I do have a spare 32oz cup (unfortunately not w a particularly nice lid, though I might fashion one myself soon), but I'm not certain about moving it just yet. It's still quite minute, and since this one doesn't seem to be as cooperative as my spiny flower by way of hand feeding, I want to be sure it's eating enough. Am I mistaken in this concern? Thank you!

 
If he is still tiny then I would keep him in a smaller enclosure where you can regulate what he eats until he gets bigger. Is it a brunners mantis? I've heard they have a hard time molting...

 
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If he is still tiny then I would keep him in a smaller enclosure where you can regulate what he eats until he gets bigger. Is it a brunners mantis? I've heard they have a hard time molting...
No, I believe the scientific name is Popa spurca. As far as molting goes, the skin was a bit crumpled, but he looks perfectly fine. I've decided to keep him in the lil cup until his next molt, so i can be certain he's eating- he's kind of a garbage hunter, haha. Much less focused than my spiny flower if you get what I mean 

 

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