My method for feeding inactive mantids.

[Crazy4mantis]

I thought I would share my method for feeding mantids that don't stalk prey. I use smaller enclosures for them, so I find it hard to put wild caught food items into them, especially with the mantis on the lid. Instead, I use a deli cup to catch stuff from outside, then replace the lid of the cup with the enclosure lid WITH THE MANTIS STILL ON IT. For crix, I flip the cup upside down so the mantis and crix are both on the bottom. For flies and climbing insects, I just let them move up toward the mantis on the lid. I think this is better because you don't need to move food around, and I don't need to clean

leftovers out of the enclosures. Has anyone tried this?

 

[Mime454]

For me, it seems to stress the mantis out and it takes it awhile to actually move a bit and eat. I normally refrigerate the food in the cup to calm it down, then I just dump it in the cage. The prey wakes up in a few minutes and it's happy hunting.

 

[Crazy4mantis]

Mine seem used to it.