r/mantis • u/Disastrous_Pace_8535 • 4d ago
This normal?
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It's my first time holding a Mantis. I already adopted her as an adult and she was very chill towards me. Well I prepared her home and bought some insects to feed her. I feed her like every 2-3 days and it seems to be enough. Anyway when I opened her box today she instantly climbed on my hand and started to eat pieces of skin from my finger. No big deal since it was dead skin anyway but at some point she started really chewing on my thumb like in the video and I think she was after my blood. She was carefull enough to not hurt me but I got worried and sat her down. I sat some of her food insects in her box and hope she actually catches it since she seems to be hungry. She already had some of my blood now and I'm a little worried she might get sick or something. Is it normal for a Mantis to do that? Do they need more food in the cold season? Is it dangerous or did she actually get a good meal like that? Thanks for y'alls help 😊
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u/lilmssun 4d ago
Its my Favorite part of owning a mantis! Shes at the top, and I have this special $20 ridiculously fine mister and spray where I can see the mist get close to her/ not hitting her.
Their little mouths just wiggle in the air. Favorite
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u/Disastrous_Pace_8535 4d ago
Yeah it's adorable to watch how they interact with their surroundings 😊
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u/Sea_Technician_498 1d ago
If you want a more intimate drinking situation, get a clean Q-tip and dip it in some water room temperature and make sure there’s a big drop soaked into it and gently hold it up to her little mouth parts and you’ll see awesomeness happen right in front of you🤩
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u/Miserable-Crew-5308 4d ago
I think they will eat the salt from your skin occasionally. My spiny flower nymph did this to my mom when she was sweating a bit and if I remember correctly that's the conclusion I got to.
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u/kiwi_fruit6 4d ago
Mine will do this when they're thirsty. I spray little water droplets on my hand for them so they can drink easier.
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u/Sea_Technician_498 1d ago
Yup 👍🏻 I have 4 wild caught mantids this year and they all do that, especially the gravid females
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u/SunshineYogaLove 3d ago
She'll be okay,
just sprinkle drops of water on the plants.
she will drink when she is ready.
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u/gothicfujo 2d ago
Spray water on your hand! They are thirsty and licking your skin for sweat/ etc. Plus its fun to watch them drink lol
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u/Wizereaper 2d ago
In middle school we built a fort using shit we pulled from the newly built houses in the area. We would collect mantises and put them in the ceiling. They would fight and eat each other.
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u/Sorry-Collection-253 2d ago
It's completely normal, because if it was bigger it would just eat you and drink your body fluids too
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u/rysfcalt 4d ago
Thirsty and trying to drink any moisture it can get off your skin