Mantis Nymph Tips + Species Reccomendations?

[FlamingSwampert]

Hey everyone!

I currently have a Chinese matis ooth, and I'm planning on raising the nymphs that it produces, but I'd like some tips. I've had a number of mantids over the years, but only a handful have been nymphs. My first nymph grew up to have crinkled wings and a deformed leg due to a mismolt, I think the next year I had one or two and they turned out fine, and most recently I had 2 nymphs which both died.
I believe I am struggling with humidity and feeding. How often do you feed nymphs (during the fruit fly phase, mostly)? How do you maintain humidity in pickle/deli cups? Any tips?

Also, after this experience, I may choose to pick up a more exotic species that will live for longer than a few months. What are some hardy, beginner-friendly, and interesting mantids to keep? I'd also like to mention that I live in the US and I'm not looking for anything very expensive, but I don't think that really affects the possible species.

As always, thanks everyone!

 

[Tentacle Toast]

Dead Leaf mania are pretty user friendly. Beautiful animals, & can even be kept communally. From what understand, they're rather prolific, so they're relatively inexpensive as well.

 

[sooshi]

A interesting option will be a Ghost Mantis in my opinion. it need high humidity, a bit of a higher temperature and it will eat mostly flies and moths. (They eat flying prey). They are not to hard to keep. Fun fact: they can be kept in groups. Thought this might be a bit harder. For the nymphs it doesn’t really matter as long as you feet them fruitflies and make sure they catch them. What I usually do with giving like 3 fruitflies or so… i put them in the refrigerator till they fall down. Pick them out and give them till they are up and flying again. I feed my nymphs two to three times a week. As mantids can go along time without eating. But this all is just how i do it and it is ofcourse based on my opinion.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

A interesting option will be a Ghost Mantis in my opinion. it need high humidity, a bit of a higher temperature and it will eat mostly flies and moths. (They eat flying prey). They are not to hard to keep. Fun fact: they can be kept in groups. Thought this might be a bit harder. For the nymphs it doesn’t really matter as long as you feet them fruitflies and make sure they catch them. What I usually do with giving like 3 fruitflies or so… i put them in the refrigerator till they fall down. Pick them out and give them till they are up and flying again. I feed my nymphs two to three times a week. As mantids can go along time without eating. But this all is just how i do it and it is ofcourse based on my opinion.

I heard that about the flying prey... the only large prey I routinely have is crickets and roaches, as everything else I have eats them, do you think that would be a problem when it comes to feeding? I will but fruit flies for the nymphs.