Devil's Flower Mantis (Idolomantis diabolica) i2/i3
NOTE: This species is almost impossible to get and there are VERY few breeding pairs in the hobby.
This mantis is a pretty hard mantis to keep much like the orchid mantis. The main challenge for most keepers is setting up the correct enclosure for them to molt properly. They are such a large species, that a large area of gripping space is required to allow them a strong grip while molting upside down. Most will fall during later stage molts as they do not have adequate surface to grip and support their weight, as they hang upside down and molt. This is NOT a beginner species, please be advised. I only recommend full mesh enclosures that are further modified and lined with the thick rug gripper material for this species. They are i2 right now and eating hydei fruit flies. When they get older, they will be eating captive bread house flies and Turkish red runners there are not sold at pet stores and must be ordered online. As adults, they have vibrant green, white, and other colors! This species has a wicked defense pose too!
Please see my Idolo enclosure photo in this listing as an example on how to keep them at later instars. You can see I added gripper to all sides. This way the bigger species can get a really good hold when they are molting and will decrease the chances of your mantis falling during molts.
NOTE: This species is almost impossible to get and there are VERY few breeding pairs in the hobby.
This mantis is a pretty hard mantis to keep much like the orchid mantis. The main challenge for most keepers is setting up the correct enclosure for them to molt properly. They are such a large species, that a large area of gripping space is required to allow them a strong grip while molting upside down. Most will fall during later stage molts as they do not have adequate surface to grip and support their weight, as they hang upside down and molt. This is NOT a beginner species, please be advised. I only recommend full mesh enclosures that are further modified and lined with the thick rug gripper material for this species. They are i2 right now and eating hydei fruit flies. When they get older, they will be eating captive bread house flies and Turkish red runners there are not sold at pet stores and must be ordered online. As adults, they have vibrant green, white, and other colors! This species has a wicked defense pose too!
Please see my Idolo enclosure photo in this listing as an example on how to keep them at later instars. You can see I added gripper to all sides. This way the bigger species can get a really good hold when they are molting and will decrease the chances of your mantis falling during molts.
NOTE: This species is almost impossible to get and there are VERY few breeding pairs in the hobby.
This mantis is a pretty hard mantis to keep much like the orchid mantis. The main challenge for most keepers is setting up the correct enclosure for them to molt properly. They are such a large species, that a large area of gripping space is required to allow them a strong grip while molting upside down. Most will fall during later stage molts as they do not have adequate surface to grip and support their weight, as they hang upside down and molt. This is NOT a beginner species, please be advised. I only recommend full mesh enclosures that are further modified and lined with the thick rug gripper material for this species. They are i2 right now and eating hydei fruit flies. When they get older, they will be eating captive bread house flies and Turkish red runners there are not sold at pet stores and must be ordered online. As adults, they have vibrant green, white, and other colors! This species has a wicked defense pose too!
Please see my Idolo enclosure photo in this listing as an example on how to keep them at later instars. You can see I added gripper to all sides. This way the bigger species can get a really good hold when they are molting and will decrease the chances of your mantis falling during molts.