Recently a ton of super tiny (<1 in. in size) praying mantises started coming out of my christmas tree. I captured a bunch, and now they're dying. Hel

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thatoneguyyouknow

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So, I captured maybe 10-20 super tiny mantises(or nymphs, if I'm not mistaken) crawling on the wall around my christmas tree. They were in a cage for a few days now, and their numbers are heavily diminished. I have no clue on what to feed them, as ham and ground beef doesn't seem to be working, and I'm really afraid they'll all die. I also can't release them because of the winter, and I just have absolutely no clue on what to do. Please help!

 
I bought some live wingless fruit flies yesterday, and I managed to feed the one that seems to be the last one alive. I started spraying its cage regularly, too. By the way, how often should I feed it to keep it alive?

 
I'd offer it a few every day at this stage. What size is the enclosure? If it's too large it will make it difficult for the nymph to capture prey. A 32oz ventilated cup would work great as a starter. I don't know what species you have, but this basic caresheet will get you off to a good start. Good luck! ☺






 
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Mantids will only eat live prey. Meat won't sustain them. You likely hatched Tenodera sinensis, or Chinese mantids. They have a very large dieoff rate, so the majority that hatch will not survive and that is normal. Feed it every day or every other day until it molts, then give it 2 days before feeding and feed every 2-ish days. Do your research and feel free to ask questions!

- MantisGirl13

 
Flightless fruit flies are available at mostly every pet store, three or four a day or other day should work, just make sure its not too much or your nymph can get stressed. Keep each nymph in a small enclosure, 3×height as the mantis is long 2×length as the mantis is long. And mist walls of the enclosure once a day so they can drink up the droplets. I'm kinda curious how they got in your tree though hah

 
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TheWrongCrowd said:
Flightless fruit flies are available at mostly every pet store, three or four a day or other day should work, just make sure its not too much or your nymph can get stressed. Keep each nymph in a small enclosure, 3×height as the mantis is long 2×length as the mantis is long. And mist walls of the enclosure once a day so they can drink up the droplets. I'm kinda curious how they got in your tree though hah
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The ooth was laid in the tree and hatched due to the warmer conditions of being inside. This happens often.

- MantisGirl13

 
I have a new issue - the last remaining mantis did it's first molt, and both back legs came out deformed, and the mantis isn't using them. Is this something I should worry about or will its next molt save everything?

 
thatoneguyyouknow said:
I have a new issue - the last remaining mantis did it's first molt, and both back legs came out deformed, and the mantis isn't using them. Is this something I should worry about or will its next molt save everything?
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If the mantis is unable to use its legs to hang for its next molt, it may not survive. 😕 If it's able to capture prey I'd give it a chance and see what happens. I've seen mantids molt with damaged legs, so it's not a lost cause. If it can't move at all, it's probably better to euthanize it, but if you have the patience and time to hand feed it for a while, you might get lucky. 🍀 

 
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I think that the mantis has at least moved the back legs around a bit(it just isn't sticking them to a surface), and the middle/front legs also work perfectly. I also know it can walk, I've seen it move a bit after molting. Does this increase the chances of survival, or are the back legs the only way that the mantis can hang so that it molts?

 
thatoneguyyouknow said:
I think that the mantis has at least moved the back legs around a bit(it just isn't sticking them to a surface), and the middle/front legs also work perfectly. I also know it can walk, I've seen it move a bit after molting. Does this increase the chances of survival, or are the back legs the only way that the mantis can hang so that it molts?
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If the middle legs work okay then it should have a chance.

- MantisGirl13

 

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