Housing:

Mantids don’t require much space but the cage or container needs to be able to accommodate them as they grow. Generally the container must be 3x the mantis length and 2x for the width. It must be well ventilated to prevent the growth of mold

This species is VERY cannibalistic and should be separated at L3

Temperature:

They prefer temps from 77-95 F but can go lower at night. A heat lamp or heating pad can be used to get the desired temp. Male mantids grow faster than the females. If you intend to breed them keep the males at the lower range of temperature and females at the higher range. 

Humidity:

They can have a large range but prefer humidity from 60%-90%. Daily misting can meet these requirements

Water:

Mantids do not require standing water to drink and receive most of their moisture from their food. They will however drink water drops from misting. Good ventilation is required to prevent mold growth from higher humidity

Feeding:

Flying insects are the preferred source of food. As nymphs fruit flies are the ideal food source and increase to house flies and blue/green bottle flies as they get larger. They also will enjoy moths or other harmless flying insects. It’s recommended that the size of the feeder insect does not exceed 1/2 the mantis length.

Crickets and meal worms can cause health problems and should be avoided.

Most pet stores sell fruit flies and wax worms that can be grown into moths. Larger flies can found easily from online suppliers or sometimes from bait shops.

Breeding: 

They can be a difficult species to breed due how quickly the males grow. Male mantids grow faster than the females. To ensure they reach adult at the same time, males should be kept 64-70 degrees and be fed less often than the females. The females should be kept 85-95F and allowed to eat as much as they want. Males can be fed once or twice a week. Keep an eye on their body condition to determine if they need feeding.

Females live much longer than males so if your female reaches adult before the male that is perfectly fine. When attempting to pair them, it’s important to provide a large enough cage with lots of sticks and branches so the male can jump off and out of range of the female. It is also advised to feed the female before introducing the male.