Q&A for How to Keep a Praying Mantis As a Pet

When it is molting, it will be hanging upside down, and you'll be able to see a thin layer of clear-ish "skin" coming off it.

It does depend on where you live. Check an insect guide for your geographic area to find out which species of praying mantis, if any, live in your area.

Yes, when they are about medium-sized. They can also eat spiders and houseflies.

You can find a praying mantis in grassy plains like bushes, plants, or an area with lots of other insects.

That depends on what species you're looking for. Be sure to check online for which species live in the desert.

You can tell by looking at how thin they are. If they are fat, they don't need to be fed. If they look skinny, give them some food.

Yes, just make sure it isn't entirely dark and that cardboard isn't used, because cardboard will disintegrate with moisture.

No.

They need a spray once a day. Spraying also helps with molting, and they will drink dew off the sides of their cage.

A pet mantis will live about one year. Provide your pet mantis with a good life for as long as you can.

No, they will only eat insects like grasshoppers, ants, flies, spiders, moths, and sometimes their own mates.

No.

Generally mantises will only eat live food, but if the mantis is eating the freeze dried maggots then you can continue to feed them that, although these maggots will not contain as many nutrients as live, gut fed maggots.

You can't make a trap for them as they are ambush predators and wait for prey to come to them. You have to go actively hunt for one.

Yes, but fruitflies would be the better option. Fruit flies are smaller and easier to digest, as well as tastier.

No. Mantids are better off alone, as they may try to eat one another. If you are a breeder, keep an eye on them, because the female may try to eat the male. If you see the female approach, take the male out of the cage.

It really depends on where the parks are located. You might want to research if your area is home to praying mantises. Try looking in highly planted, out of control bushes that seem to be occupied by other bugs.

Praying mantises molt six to nine times during their juvenile years. These molts occur anywhere from two to four weeks apart.

Yes, praying mantises are commonly found in gardens since there are lots of food sources there.

No, it's probably just resting. You could try coaxing it onto your hand or feeding it some bugs to see if it reacts though.

It depends what species it is. If you have a fully-matured adult, then there is a chance it can fly. Most species as nymphs won't quite have wings yet.

There are very few mantis that can be kept together, as they become aggressive toward one another.

Yes. Depending on the species and gender, they may be able to fly short distances, though, so be mindful of your surroundings.

Generally, but colder areas don't have them as much. If you live in the southern half of the U.S., then you will probably have plenty mantises near you.

Yes, the orchid mantis looks like an orchid, and it is native to the USA.

For most species, check the abdomen: if there are 7 - 8 segments on it it's a male, if it is 5 - 6 segments it's a female. A male grows to about 7 cm and is long and thin; a female is bulky, can't fly and grows to about 8 cm.

As long as you live in a warm house, then you can continue caring for your praying mantis the same way.

Take it away and put it in a different container, check the humidity levels and the temperature. Once the nymphs are born place each of them in a different container or give or sell them away. Never release them as they will die if where you live doesn't have the proper conditions for them to survive.

It may be a Chinese mantis, but without seeing it it is hard to say. Try to look for information on a website where you can upload or search for a picture.

Yes, most praying mantis recognize their owners because they watch you every day nonstop, even when you are sleeping!