New Mantis Won't Eat

[FriendsoftheMantis]

Hello, I'm new here.

I recently bought a Giant Dead Leaf Mantis (Deroplatys desiccata) from the America's Family Pet Expo in Costa Mesa, CA. Got him the day I went to the Expo, which was Friday. So it's been three days, and so far I haven't been able to get him to eat. I've tried crickets, bottle flies, dubia roaches, fruitflies-----and nothing! I'm getting concerned. Is he just really picky or does he still need time to acclimate? What else should I offer him? He's three months old, not tiny, but still on the small side. Here's a picture of him. My family and I named him Beetlejuice by the way, aka BJ.

 

[mantisfan101]

Is he in premolt? They generally won’t eat if they’re going to molt and he/she looks a little plump to me. Also try setting a bluebottle fly in the enclosure and let him/her catch it by him or herself. Don’t stick food in its face or else you’ll stress it and give it ample humidity.

 

[FriendsoftheMantis]

Is he in premolt? They generally won’t eat if they’re going to molt and he/she looks a little plump to me. Also try setting a bluebottle fly in the enclosure and let him/her catch it by him or herself. Don’t stick food in its face or else you’ll stress it and give it ample humidity.

I'm not sure if he's in premolt or not. The guy selling them didn't say. I did let a fly loose into the enclosure and he sort of showed interest but he hasn't really made an attempt to catch it. We do spray his enclosure once a day. He has a live pothos in a tiny pot in the enclosure and one small fake plant. His cage 10'' x 10'' by 12'' Zoo Med Labs Nano Breeze Aluminum Screen Cage by Zoo Med. He has screen sides, top, and back. But the front door is not screened, most likely acrylic.

 

[mantisfan101]

Could we get a better photo of the mantis, if his abdomen is plump he might not need to eat. If he still doesn’t eat you could try crushingn s dubia roach and slowly putting it up to his or her mouth. I’ve seen many species willingly accept this method especially if they’re larger but if he’s smaller do so with caution so you win’t accidentally smoosh it in case he jumps or something like that.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Sounds like pre-molt!

 

[FriendsoftheMantis]

Could we get a better photo of the mantis, if his abdomen is plump he might not need to eat. If he still doesn’t eat you could try crushingn s dubia roach and slowly putting it up to his or her mouth. I’ve seen many species willingly accept this method especially if they’re larger but if he’s smaller do so with caution so you win’t accidentally smoosh it in case he jumps or something like that.

Thanks, I'll try that. And I'll wait until He's in a better position so I can photograph his abdomen.

 

[FriendsoftheMantis]

Thanks, I'll try that. And I'll wait until He's in a better position so I can photograph his abdomen.

Here's some more shots of him.

 

[mantisfan101]

Hmm he looks auite thin, he should’ve eaten something by now, try maybe hand-feeding him?

 

[FriendsoftheMantis]

Hmm he looks auite thin, he should’ve eaten something by now, try maybe hand-feeding him?

I've done as many things I could think of. I tried hand-feeding him flies and crickets, and that didn't work. He just backs away. I tried releasing something into the cage, a fly, a lacewing, and that didn't work either. He totally ignores them. I'm going to be honest: I've had mantises multiple times before (mainly the Chinese mantis, the Carolina mantis, and the Arizona mantis (Stagmomantis gracilipes). It started out when I was much younger and would catch them in my backyard. Then I started getting them at Pet expos. I've never had this issue before where a mantis just straight up wouldn't eat. I was really starting to panic, because I got him 4 days ago, and I didn't want my guy to starve to death #1 (and #2 then I'd be out of $20 which I paid for him at the Pet Expo). That was until I tried honey. I've never heard of offering honey to a mantis, and I wasn't sure if it was a good idea or not. People on here were suggesting it, so I decided to try it. HE ACCEPTED IT! WOOHOO! I put a little on one of his raptors and he started to lick it off. Then he wanted more from my toothpick! I'm so relieved. Thank you for the advice.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Crush a cricket and put the juices on the raptors of the mantis. If it licks its raptors, put the cricket guts next to its mouth.

 

[MrGhostMantis]

Following up on @Ratmosphere's suggestion of crushing the cricket and putting the juices on the raptors of your mantis, I have found an easier method of this. All you need to do is crush the crickets head or cut it in half and slowly inch the crushed or cut part of the cricket near to the mantid's mouth. My Phyllocrania Parodoxa(Ghost mantids) love it when I do this, and will take a bite then fiercely attack it. Hope you got it eating!