Husbandry and Facts About the Sphodromantis gastrica (African mantis) [HUSBANDRY]

This video takes an in depth look into an intermediate species, Sphodromantis gastrica, or African Mantis. We explore some husbandry suggestions and ideal living conditions as well as some insights into this captivating mantis
Species Featured:
Sphodromantis gastrica
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[@peachesc.9078]

Love your vids! We bring in one lucky South African mantis nymph from our garden every year. We keep them well fed with houseflies, spiders and roaches and let them drink from our finger. We even treat them to juice off an apple occasionally! They LOVE it 💕 We house them in our water heater cabinet to keep them warm in winter. Our female ones lay a succession of 9-10 Ootheca before they expire. It’s always so heartbreaking when they die but we try to give them the best lives. They are super adorable and feisty with very distinct personalities and fascinating hunting skills 🥰

[@Wade_Wiley]

I love that idea of giving them some fresh apple juice i'll have to try it!

[@peachesc.9078]

You’re spot on about their tight grip. Our previous female tried to eat my finger once and held on for dear life. I had to pop her under running water before she decided to let go 😅 They are vicious (yet so darn cute). Our current one is very docile and hardly moves. Shove a fly in front of her though and she turns into the Terminator.

[@Wade_Wiley]

I recently had a similar incident with my Wide-armed Mantis, she would NOT let go i had to pry her off! I think she thought one of the hairs on my arm was a prey item moving !! It was my own fault though i think when theyre a bit more sizeable its best to only handle after a feed and make sure theyre hydrated. I was more worried about hurting her though getting her off, it didnt really hurt just a pin prick from her raptors!

[@ScarletWolfie]

Your videos are so helpful to me, I've recently come across a male African Mantis and decided to keep him as it seems he'd gotten hurt somehow, after watching these videos I tried feeding my mantis and he ate it! you've helped me so much because I was too afraid to feed him random insects I find in the garden. He ate for the first time in the 3 hours I've had him. I know I'm a little late to the videos but they've helped me so much. Thank you so much and I love your videos!💮😄👍

[@steveboutcher80]

Nice video Wade. Good camera work. I've probably kept about 50-60 different species in all the years I've studied mantids... But to be honest, the simple, somewhat "standard" mantids such as the Sphodromantis sp. and the Heirodula sp. are still my favorites. They are just so easy and rarely any stress with them. I have kept both the Sphodromantis gastrica and Sphodromantis viridis. The latter are very bulky and have very large heads! I have Sphodromantis lineola at the moment. The nymphs of these have quite a funny defense display... When scared, they make themselves as flat as possible and shimmy to the back side of a twig or leaf so that you can't see them. Such a charming species. Keep up the good work. Really enjoying your videos.

[@Wade_Wiley]

Thank you Steve, and thanks for the ongoing tips and advice! I've really enjoyed the Sphodromantis g i'll defo get more from the genus, just have to limit myself otherwise i'll end up with 100s of species and no room! This guy has been fairly timid until adulthood, but now he seems a bit more defensive when i open his enclosure up. I defo wanna get some more obscure species I just worry about the transportation etc!

[@steveboutcher80]

@@Wade_Wiley Yeah, mantids are so awesome it's easy to get carried away. Especially if you get into breeding. I have fond memories of having 100's of mantids in my room as a young man... I never got bored of them.

[@ryanstudios9366]

He looks similar to my male mantis except mine was a giant rainforest mantis,his colours were beautiful

[@koenvt27]

Great vid :)

[@themantisgarden]

I love these guys, I have the Sphodromantis lineola, not much difference I would say.

[@brianheidel4550]

really brutal how they don't kill their prey before eating it. just catch it and start eating.

[@erossinema8797]

What a delicious voice