The Cost of a Praying Mantis
A praying mantis is a kind of bug that practically any individual will know about, due to its bent front legs that are held together looking like it’s in a “praying” position.
Just how much does a praying mantis cost?
It really depends on the type. A praying mantis is going to cost anywhere from $6 to $35 each. The expenses will depend upon the species, the person selling it, and the number of insects you’re getting at the same time.
You can find listings marked as “buy it now” even on eBay. We checked them, they’re there. One listing for a Chinese praying mantis, with fruit flies and a kit included in the price, currently has a $15 buy it now fixed price, while another listing for a giant African praying mantis can be acquired for a fixed price of $25.
A very popular online reptile breeder that we found online has an offer for their medium to giant praying mantises for $30.
You can get Praying mantis eggs instead of the live insects, and those can cost $1 to $2 per egg. These eggs can typically be found online in bundles of 10 or more.
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We looked into a couple of popular types and added the quotes we have found in the list below:
Species and Average Expense per mantis:
- Malaysian Blue – $7
- Madagascan Marbled – $7
- Jeweled Flower – $8
- Giant Guard – $15
- Giant Golden – $10
- Large Asian – $7
- Ghost Praying – $6
- Dead Leaf – $6
- Puzzling – $8
- Chinese – $12
- Budwig – $8
- Brown Guard – $8
- African Lined – $8
- African Giant – $8
- Malaysian Dead – $13
- Orchid – $22
- Sumatran Gold – $8
- Branch Praying – $7
- Roaming Violin – $12
What are the additional expenses?
A container specifically made for insects with an oxygenated cover is recommended as an appropriate environment, if one wasn’t already included in the final cost. Make sure to include a suitable substrate and branches to simulate its natural surroundings. This kind of container can cost about $10 to $20, however, if you are preparing to get more than one praying mantis, you will have to purchase different containers to prevent any conflict between them.
Heat light is suggested for the container. The praying mantis’ tank must be kept around 75 degrees Farenheight.
A praying mantis will eat feeder bugs such as rice flour beetles, silkworms, fruit flies, houseflies, or bluebottle flies. Be ready to invest $5 to $20 monthly, depending upon the size of the insects you purchase.
Given that there’s a great possibility you’re going to buy one online, shipping charges might apply. Depending upon the merchant and the distance between you, this can vary from $10 to $50 or even more.
Tips to remember
A starter bundle, if you’re not only getting the insect, can consist of the following items: an insect container, appropriately-sized feeder flies (fruit flies, houseflies, or bluebottle flies), bamboo skewers, a mist spray bottle, a starter guide, and the praying mantis nymph.
The typical life expectancy will be around 12 months in the wild and close to the same period while in captivity, although captivity might protect it from harsh weather or other problems.
Make sure to check whether the praying mantis species you are planning to get is legal in your state. The U.S Federal Law sees as prohibited these species: the Ghost Mantis, Orchid Mantis, Large Asian Mantis, Devils Flower Mantis, Wondering Violin Mantis, and Egyptian Mantis.
If there are bugs in the container that the praying mantis did not consume, these need to be taken out and changed with live, fresh bugs.
Some individuals see a praying mantis as a pet due to its capability to protect plants from other insects.
Many species will have wings, however, there are some that will not. Females can’t fly with their wings, however, most males can.
How can I save some money?
Make sure to purchase only USDA-approved praying mantises, and do not buy if the seller can not ensure its legality.
Rather than purchasing a praying mantis container with an aerated cover, think about making your own container to avoid spending the extra dollars.
Think about purchasing a package that consists of whatever you need to start looking after a praying mantis correctly, right from the beginning.
In order to save some more, you should try to avoid acquiring a praying mantis – if they can be found freely in your area, try to capture one instead. This might be pretty hard due to their size, color, and habits, however, the hunt can be rather satisfying.
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I can supply you with a lot of mantis
I’m looking for praying mantis.