My sister’s pet male mantis is not eating!! (Gaint rainforest mantis)
Ever since he molted to an adult, he’s been picky on the food, I offer him cut up roaches and he only eats a little but after he refuses and drops or push the food away. I tried giving him crickets and he dug in more than the roaches which is better but still not eating the entire prey.. I know that crickets are risky to feed to mantis but guy needs to eat.
It’s been a month and a few weeks now as an adult mantis and he still does this.. looking at the prey insect and shaking, striking at the roach but not grabbing it.
Right after he molted and hardened his body, he was eating fine, catching his prey like normal but later he just doesn’t want to eat.
I live in Australia and it now gets to 16 degrees as we approach winter. And it’s about to get colder. Is temperature the problem? Should I get a heater once it gets below 10 degrees?
The humidity is fine as my sister put sphagnum moss and a live plant in the enclosure.
I also think that he might be looking for a female and is not in the mood to eat.
My sister always at work so I’m the one babysitting her mantis, advice very appreciated. I’m afraid the mantis will die.