Snails with praying mantis

[Martin]

Is it safe to keep one or more grove snails with a Chinese praying mantis? Will a mantis attack or eat the snails?

 

[hibiscusmile]

If the mantis can grab it ,it will eat it.

 

[minomantis]

I would stay away from that combo. I know snails can hide in their shell, but I’m pretty sure snails/slugs also produce a very sticky mucus when stressed that could be dangerous for the mantis. Dangerous in that it would take a lot of energy to clean off if it could. Personally, I wouldn’t tempt it, but if you do, good luck. Maybe research snails defense mechanisms so you know what they’re capable of. Good luck!

-mino

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Snails have mucus that can stick a mantis to the walls of the enclosure/drown it or cause it to lose blood flow in a body part rendering it useless. They also can carry bacteria and a mantis will eat just about anything it can grab that moves so it’s just a obvious no to keeping them communal.