Mantis eating vermiculite??

[Mantidkid]

Ok so just a minute ago I put a fruit fly in the enclosure and he ran under my mantis who was sat on his stick. He/she tried to grab the fruit fly but missed and grabbed the substrate(fine vermiculite) and started to eat it thinking it was the fly. He seemed to be breaking bits off and spitting them out. I was glad he/she wasn't swallowing them and he/she later found and ate the fruit fly but still I was worried so I wanted to ask will the vermiculite be harmful to him because he may have swallowed some, I'm not sure but still I would just like to know because I'm slightly worried. Thanks!

 

[crabbypatty]

My mantids have grabbed at things thinking it was food several times. They never eat enough to make me worry, they realize right away that it's not food. Mine have eaten fabric, plastic shelving, dirt, paper towel, and plants. Nothing happened to them, I've had to pry stuff from their raptors before eating more but I've never had problems. Yours should be ok. 

 

[Mantidkid]

My mantids have grabbed at things thinking it was food several times. They never eat enough to make me worry, they realize right away that it's not food. Mine have eaten fabric, plastic shelving, dirt, paper towel, and plants. Nothing happened to them, I've had to pry stuff from their raptors before eating more but I've never had problems. Yours should be ok. 

Ok thankyou that is reassuring

 

[crabbypatty]

No problem ?