Praying Mantis Housing

Praying Mantis Housing Guide – Creating the Ideal Enclosure

Proper housing is essential for a healthy, thriving praying mantis. Whether you’ve received your mantis in a 4oz deli cup or you're preparing a custom acrylic setup, this guide will help you choose and set up the perfect enclosure for your mantid companion.

🏠 Temporary Housing – Travel Cups & Short-Term Setups

Most mantises arrive in small ventilated containers, such as 4oz, 10oz, or 32oz cups. These travel cups, often lined with tissue for grip, provide safe short-term accommodation during transit or early instars.

While convenient for the first few days or even up to two weeks, these containers are not suitable as long-term enclosures. Think of them as temporary holding spaces while you prepare your mantis’s permanent home.

Tip: Don’t throw away the travel cup — it can be repurposed as a feeding container to help your mantis easily locate its prey.

📏 What Size Enclosure Does a Praying Mantis Need?

The golden rule of mantis enclosures: the space should be at least 3 times the mantis’s body length in height and 2 times its length in width. This ensures safe molting and room to hunt.

🔹 Small Enclosures (10×10×15 cm)

Great for smaller species like:

  • Creobroter urbanus

  • Astyliasula major

  • Miomantis paykullii

🔸 Medium Enclosures (15×15×20 cm)

Ideal for:

  • Phyllocrania paradoxa (Ghost mantis)

  • Hymenopus coronatus (Orchid mantis)

🔶 Large Enclosures (19×19×29 cm and up)

Best suited for larger species such as:

  • Deroplatys desiccata (Dead Leaf mantis)

  • Rhombodera kirbyi

🧠 How to Choose the Best Enclosure

Before buying, always research your specific mantis species. Some prefer vertical climbing space, others need more airflow or textured surfaces for grip.

At Mantis Mayhem, we offer care guides and enclosure recommendations for each species to help you make the best choice. Whether you're shopping for budget-friendly options or premium acrylic mantis enclosures, choose something that balances safety, ventilation, and visibility.

Pro tip: Acrylic or plastic enclosures are highly recommended. They're lightweight, easy to clean, and mantis-safe — just make sure to add texture or mesh if your species struggles with grip on smooth surfaces.

🌿 Decor & Ventilation – Keep It Simple

When decorating your mantis’s enclosure:

  • Use minimal décor during early molts to prevent injury

  • Avoid overcrowding with sticks, leaves, or fake plants

  • Always choose enclosures with adequate ventilation

  • A mesh top is ideal for molting and climbing

  • Avoid metal mesh — it can damage your mantis’s delicate feet

Enrichment is great, but safety comes first.

🔧 DIY vs. Pre-Made Enclosures

In the past, many keepers used 32oz deli cups or DIY plastic containers. While these still work, the hobby has evolved — today’s acrylic mantis enclosures offer better airflow, visibility, and long-term comfort.

Whether you build your own or buy one of our purpose-built mantis enclosures, the goal is the same: a safe, well-ventilated space that allows your mantis to hunt, molt, and thrive.

✅ Summary: Key Housing Tips

  • Choose an enclosure 3× taller than your mantis

  • Match enclosure size to species and growth stage

  • Prioritise ventilation and molting space

  • Add grip surfaces if needed (especially for smooth walls)

  • Keep décor minimal to prevent molting issues

With the right setup, your praying mantis will feel right at home. Explore our full range of mantis enclosures and care products to give your invert the best start possible.
Happy housing from all of us at Mantis Mayhem!