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Praying mantises are interesting and interactive insects that live in rainforests and grasslands all over the world—and they can also be kept inside with the right habitat. Making their habitat is a quick and easy process. Simply source a suitable container, add coconut husk and some sticks, and then spray it with water to keep it humid. If you feel creative, add a few plastic flowers or trees to the enclosure to decorate it. Enjoy watching your praying mantis climb around its new habitat.
Steps
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Choose a container that is 3 times longer than the mantis and twice its width. This gives the praying mantis plenty of room to walk around and shed its coat. This is important, as the mantis can lose mobility in its limbs if it is unable to move around freely. [1] X Research source- Use a ruler to estimate the size of your praying mantis.
- For example, if your mantis is approximately 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) wide and 2 inches (5.1 cm) long, the container would need to be 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 6 inches (15 cm) long.
- Purchase an insect terrarium from a pet shop or recycle a clean container from home.
- Plastic or wooden containers work best for this activity, as cardboard will warp and become soggy over time.
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Attach a lid to the container to prevent the mantis from escaping. Praying mantises are good climbers and can easily climb up the items in their enclosures. Place a lid or a cover over your container to keep the mantis in the habitat. [2] X Research source- If your container doesn’t have a lid, place a piece of plywood over the container instead.
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Provide ventilation holes to allow fresh air into the container. It is important to have more than 1 ventilation hole, as this allows the air to circulate inside the habitat and stops the container from going mouldy. If your container doesn’t have ventilation holes, use scissors or a drill to make 6 small holes in the enclosure. [3] X Research source- Make sure that the ventilation holes are smaller than the width of the praying mantis to avoid it escaping.
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Cover the bottom of the container with damp coconut husk. Lightly mist the coconut husk with water until the top of the husk is covered with a thin layer of water. This will cause it to expand up to 5 times its regular size. Spread the expanded coconut husk over the bottom of the enclosure until the entire base is covered with approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) of substrate. [4] X Research source- Coconut husk is also called coir.
- The damp coconut husk will help to keep the enclosure humid.
- Purchase coconut husk from a pet shop.
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Place clean sticks from your garden into the habitat. This gives something for the praying mantis to climb on in their enclosure. Rinse the sticks in water to clean off any dirt or poisonous spiders. If possible, choose a small branch with lots of arms, as this provides multiple sticks for the praying mantis to climb on. [5] X Research source- Use a pair of secateurs to trim the sticks down to the size of your container.
- The size of the dish doesn’t matter; however larger water containers are easier, as they don’t need to be refilled as often.
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Add plastic decorations to the container if you want to add colour. Plastic flowers, trees, and grasses are great options. Make sure to leave plenty of room in the habitat for the praying mantis to move around. [6] X Research source- Purchase decorations from a pet shop or a dollar store.
- Plastic decorations work best, as paper or wooden decorations can warp over time. Avoid using any decorations that contain visible glue, as this can poison the praying mantis.
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Don’t place any other insects in the habitat. Praying mantises like to eat live insects. This means that if you place other insects in their container, they will likely be eaten. If you want to keep other insects as pets, it is best to make them a separate habitat. [7] X Research source
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Mist the habitat with water once a day. Praying mantises like to live in warm and humid areas. Spray a light mist of water over the habitat to slightly increase the humidity level inside the enclosure. [8] X Research source- Adjust your spray bottle to the lightest setting in order to lightly mist the enclosure.
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Place a water dish in the habitat. This simulates the pools of water that are often found in humid climates. Place the dish of water on top of the coconut husk inside the enclosure. This allows the praying mantis to drink when it is thirsty. [9] X Research source- A jar lid works well as a water dish.
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Keep the enclosure at 22 °C (72 °F) with a heating pad. Place a heating pad under the habitat and set the temperature dial to 22 °C (72 °F). This helps to keep the enclosure nice and warm for the praying mantis. [10] X Research source- Purchase a heating pad from a pet shop or a vet.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionHow do I acclimate the praying mantis to the terrarium?Brandon Runyon is a board-certified Entomologist based in Evansville, Indiana. He has over 18 years of experience as a Pest Control professional, and is the Technical Director of Swat Pest Management. Swat Pest Management serves areas throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, where they provide safe, cost-effective solutions for client’s pest control needs. He authored Bugged by Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide to Pest Control, a user-friendly guide to commercial pest control practices in hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Entomology, and received a MS in Entomology from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also received an MBA from Western Governors University.To acclimate a praying mantis to a terrarium, start by adjusting the temperature to match its natural habitat, facilitating its development. Feed the young mantis fruit flies, as they are easy to rear and suitable for their size. Create microhabitats within the terrarium to mimic their natural environment, especially when they are small and vulnerable. Maintain adequate humidity levels and provide access to water to ensure a comfortable and conducive environment for their growth and well-being, tailoring it to the specific needs of the species you are caring for.
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QuestionHow do I know how old my mantis is?FalinPerthCommunity AnswerMantises are born in spring, and most die in winter. Assuming you caught your mantis in the wild, count back to the first warm days in your location.
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QuestionHow do I know if my mantis is a girl or a boy?Community AnswerAdult females are larger and stockier than males; the females generally don't fly, while the males can.
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Tips
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- It can take a very long time for mantises to become tame enough to handle. Don't rush the process and force the mantis to touch you or climb on your hand if it doesn't want to.
- Most females have 6 sections on their abdomens while most males have 8. You can count them to determine the gender of your mantis.
- Do not try to mate mantises. The male will most likely be killed and eaten by the female.
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Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about entomology, check out our in-depth interview with Brandon Runyon .
References
- ↑ https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/care/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/REIIeXKPk6k?t=240
- ↑ https://youtu.be/REIIeXKPk6k?t=105
- ↑ https://youtu.be/REIIeXKPk6k?t=174
- ↑ https://youtu.be/REIIeXKPk6k?t=240
- ↑ https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/care/
- ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
- ↑ https://www.keepinginsects.com/praying-mantis/care/
- ↑ https://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/praying-mantids.html
About This Article
Article Summary
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To make a praying mantis habitat, start by getting a plastic or wooden container that's at least 3 times longer and 2 times wider than your praying mantis. Then, poke several small holes in the container so air can get in. Next, line the bottom of the container with damp coconut husk, and add clean sticks from your garden so your praying mantis has things to climb on. Finally, place a dish of water in the habitat for when your praying mantis is thirsty. To learn how to keep the habitat warm enough for your praying mantis, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I was hoping that I would find a mantis so I checked everywhere. I could not find one, then my uncle said that why don't we go on the trampoline? We will try to get some mantises. So I went on the trampoline then I found my mantis and that was a great day!" ..." more
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"I was hoping that I would find a mantis so I checked everywhere. I could not find one, then my uncle said that why don't we go on the trampoline? We will try to get some mantises. So I went on the trampoline then I found my mantis and that was a great day!"
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"Our 8-year-old granddaughter has wanted a praying mantis for a pet, and today we caught one. We Googled "care of your praying mantis", and your site was the first in line. She spent quite some time reading your easy-to-read page. Thank you!"
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"This article was great. I made a new home for my mantis and he became happier and started climbing up and down. I guess that the old cage wasn't enough space for him. It was awesome how the cage looked."
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"I found a mantis near my house and caught it in a cup, and decided to keep it as a pet. This article really helped me make a habitat for it."
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"We found a newly born male on our cat's tail here in freezing and snowy Vermont! This article helped a lot. Thank you! "
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