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Giant African Mantis 2cm

We charge £10 for special delivery of inverts. Please select “post to me” when you add your item to the basket. Order will process as “collect from store” in the basket however we will check your order for your postage selection. Inverts are not available for Free Delivery.

There are 1,800 species of carnivorous insects known as Mantids. Most mantids are primarily found in tropical countries, although a few species also inhabit cooler climates.

Praying mantises generally have a short lifespan and shed often, usually lasting around 6–12 months. Providing the correct parameters, diet, and housing ensures that they can thrive in captivity and live to their maximum age.

Young mantis eat small insects such as fruit flies, moving on to small crickets when old enough. They will also feed on a variety of other live foods as they grow, such as locusts, cockroaches and larger flies. Never leave food in with your mantis and feed 1 prey item at a time, ensure this is eaten before placing any additional food in. Generally, mantisess will eat every 2-3 days, depending on their size, food item and growth rate.

Mantis should be kept individually, except for monitored breeding times, as they will exhibit cananbalistic behaviour.

Praying mantids, originating from tropical regions, should be kept warm. Ideally, maintain temperatures between 20°C to 25°C ( 68°F to 77°F) during the day and slightly cooler at night. Providing a heat source, such as a heat mat or ceramic heat emitter, can help achieve this temperature range. Remember to also provide a humidity level of around 60–70% by misting the enclosure regularly. . The temperature should be kept as constant as possible, and this can be achieved using a heat mat and thermostat.

Spraying the cage once a day with fresh, clean water will provide the mantis with water and will also raise the humidity of the enclosure. Humidity is crucial during mantids’ moulting process. Be cautious of excess water droplets to prevent smaller mantids from becoming trapped and drowning. Insufficient humidity during the moulting cycle can cause your mantis to become stuck in its shed, resulting in health issues or even death.

For more information on mantids, or any of our other reptile pets or products please contact us.