What Type of a Praying Mantis Enclosure Should I Get?

mesh enclosure (L), glass enclosure (C), acrylic enclosure (R)

Before bringing your little mantis companion home, you first must ensure that your mantis has an enclosure all set up. A praying mantis will either live in a glass, acrylic, or mesh enclosure.

When deciding whether to get a mesh, glass, or acrylic enclosure for your mantis, consider the humidity level of your environment. Also, consider what are the humidity requirements of your mantis species. 

• If you plan to keep your mantis in a humid room, but it thrives in a less humid environment, a mesh enclosure/butterfly net may be the way to go.

•  But if you are keeping your mantis in a dry room and they needs a high humidity, getting a glass or acrylic enclosure may make more sense. 

Having enough ventilation for your mantis is crucial, especially in acrylic or glass enclosures. Having a mesh lid and/or breathing holes on the sides of your enclosure are key. 

"Daisy" the Mantis molting

Whatever enclosure you decide to pick, it MUST be at least 3 times the mantis’ length and two times the width of the mantis; this is because when a mantis “molts” out of their old skin, they hangs from the enclosure’s ceiling and drop down. If a mantis does not have enough room to “drop down,” they can become cramped and misshapen when molting.

Mantises grow over the course of their life, and this helps by starting your mantis in a smaller enclosure and gradually sizing it up. If an enclosure is too big, then your mantis may struggle to find its food. You may even have a difficult time spotting your mantis as well because they are masters of camouflage!

All mantis enclosures must have a mesh ceiling. If you repurpose an enclosure meant for a small reptile, you must tear out the ceiling and replace it with a soft mesh. Mantises require a soft ceiling to hang from, and a wire ceiling can damage their feet. Having no mesh ceiling puts your mantis at risk of falling during a molt.