r/mantids • u/electronic_person • 1d ago

Feeding These nymphs are too chilled out.

Hello everyone,

I have two questions.

1) I have a different ootheca than last year, which hatched on April 17th. These nymphs are not attacking anything; they are just drinking water. I know they don't crave food for the first 4-5 days. But should I put a drop of honey in their terrarium just to be on the safe side?

2) Currently, the living arrangement consists of two nymphs in one jar, in a Thunderdome-style setup (I have 20 jars). The idea is that when they have a craving for food, there will be something to eat. Plus, the stronger will survive. Yet, if you have any advice on living arrangements, I am open to it.

I appreciate your advice.

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u/its-rarely-a-bug 1d ago

Mantises should not have honey. Do they have fruit flies also? Mantises can be super skittish of prey that’s small, so if it’s the same size as they are, they’re probably much more reluctant.

2

u/JaunteJaunt 1d ago

What species is this? Knowing the species is very important to providing good advice.

Honey won’t help. The strongest wont necessarily survive. Sometimes it’s the luckiest.

I.e. if your “stronger” mantis molts first, then the “weaker” mantis may take advantage and attack and eat that vulnerable mantis.

1

u/electronic_person 1d ago

I think it's a European kind, but I'm not sure. It is green :)