HeavyBeetle
Member
I recently found a mantis nymph in my house and decided to raise it. It seems to be doing really well, has already molted once and is super fat and colorful. I will be leaving for a week long vacation soon though, and am wondering how to do this safely for the little one. I've been scouring for info, but I can't figure out for sure if it would be okay to leave it for a week.
I have it in a jar with a perforated lid (it's actually a lid for seed sprouting!). There's about 2 inches of substrate on the bottom, which is damp. Pressed into this is a little cap filled with water and rocks so it doesn't drown. I have a long stick and some plastic plants in there vertically so it can get onto the ceiling and hang upside down easily. Here are some pictures in case that is helpful:
![20220712_152937.jpg 20220712_152937.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/16/16639-7e7cb672c1d4088d89979cf7ab1e43ff.jpg)
If I spray it down, top off its water, leave a bunch of live fruit flies in its jar, and feed it really well before I leave, would that be safe for the mantis?
If I can't find anyone to look after it, and leaving it unattended is not recommended, I'll just set it free in the back yard so I don't risk harming it.
Thanks for your help!
I have it in a jar with a perforated lid (it's actually a lid for seed sprouting!). There's about 2 inches of substrate on the bottom, which is damp. Pressed into this is a little cap filled with water and rocks so it doesn't drown. I have a long stick and some plastic plants in there vertically so it can get onto the ceiling and hang upside down easily. Here are some pictures in case that is helpful:
![20220712_150943.jpg 20220712_150943.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/16/16638-86ceef9e4efef561724adaf460b501ee.jpg)
![20220712_153035.jpg 20220712_153035.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/16/16641-6268d2056bdef859ca71323938260ab4.jpg)
![20220712_153016.jpg 20220712_153016.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/16/16640-266706b45cafdf663111b1c73abefef4.jpg)
![20220712_152937.jpg 20220712_152937.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/mantidforum/data/attachments/16/16639-7e7cb672c1d4088d89979cf7ab1e43ff.jpg)
If I spray it down, top off its water, leave a bunch of live fruit flies in its jar, and feed it really well before I leave, would that be safe for the mantis?
If I can't find anyone to look after it, and leaving it unattended is not recommended, I'll just set it free in the back yard so I don't risk harming it.
Thanks for your help!