Mantis University 3: What to Feed your Mantis (and Why?)

[@nancylesch667]

😊 Thanks for all the info - awesome

[@brettshivers2494]

Also, feeder?? I hardly know her!! 🤣 Also your bug videos are super cool and so educational!

[@bugloverspiderlover8490]

I have that same plushie,plus I feed my Carolina mantids whatever I catch,crickets,roaches,small spiders,even tiny frogs and geckos for breeding or pregnant females.

[@brettshivers2494]

IM YOUR VERY FIRST VIEW!!! I WIN!!!! I put the MAN in MANTIS!!! 💪🏼💪🏼

[@igoraraujo1684]

Brilliant! I live in Australia and I just got a Hierodula majuscula and its been really hard to find trustworthy sources

[@roscey8987]

would love to see specific spotlight videos on the different individual species you have!!

[@MantisMeet]

Planning on doing this down the line, especially for the more unusual/difficult species.

[@imquittinglifetobecomeabur6558]

I used to feed my lil guy masqitos larva

[@Sangsterga]

My first male mantis, before I knew better, was fed primarily fruit flies until subadult(stagmo Carolina) He lived about 2 months and successfully mated 7 times with no injuries. He was a BIG flier, I ended up moving onto flies when he hit subadult and he had no issues. I’m glad I moved to flies before he was finished developing. As an adult he was unreasonably picky/skiddish when it came to food. Even in adulthood a housefly would leave him hugging the ceiling. He was quite a bit turned off by roaches too, though would eat them if gut fed. The only thing I found that he consistently went for were firebrats. I kid you not when I tell you this mantis ate the equivalent of like two adult roaches female red runners his entire adult life. He WOULD NOT EAT, but he was a thirsty little bugger. All he wanted was to make love to the females near him. He would finish msting and be trying to get at the other females 8 hours later. His stamina was unbelievable… miss that boy

[@thewolven6075]

My first mantis was a male S. Carolina too. They’re crazy little things.

[@bugloverspiderlover8490]

@@thewolven6075I’ve had both as I breed them,of course the females are way better,males are way to flighty.

[@rickragnard]

I find the price of fly pupae not bad, but I keep one mantis, not a whole lab!

[@bugloverspiderlover8490]

Compost piles are a godsend for me! More than enough flies.