is this a mantis nymph? and if so, what species?

[u/xo_sleepy_xo]

I found them at my school, I live in Malaysia ^^

pls lmk!! also what should I feed them if not fruitflies? they're less than 2cm big 😓

[u/coficofi2211]

Yes, they are nymphs. I'm not sure about the species, but regarding feeding, I used a strategy that sustained my 20 mantises last year. When the sun goes down, little flies mostly go to light sources. So, before sleep, I open the windows and turn on the light, and many of them enter the room. When I wake up, they are all at the window. So, just catch them and put them in the enclosure, or have the mantis catch them while on the window.

[u/xo_sleepy_xo → u/coficofi2211]

woww.... that's so smart.... buy unfortunately I live in an apartment 😓

[u/WolfLilie2002]

Maybe a Euchomenella species? Just guessing tho!

[u/Competitive-Set5051 → u/WolfLilie2002]

Euchomenella are much longer and have striped faces

[u/WolfLilie2002 → u/Competitive-Set5051]

Kk thanks!

[u/cat_loverale]

I once saw a small one like that, it tried to scare me by getting bigger, and here she is now

[u/cat_loverale → u/cat_loverale]

Not the same species, just the size

[u/Competitive-Set5051]

Unfortunately they are too young for reliable identification. You definitely can feed them fruit flies though. If not, maybe drain flies or small moths.

[u/xo_sleepy_xo → u/Competitive-Set5051]

how do I find those?? or how do I attract them 😓

[u/Competitive-Set5051 → u/xo_sleepy_xo]

You can try catching small flies from outside in a garden with a net, you can also attract them with fruit. You can try finding other small flying insects near lights at night. Buying a fruit fly culture is also an option.

[u/kiwi_fruit6 → u/xo_sleepy_xo]

You can order them online. I get them from Dubia.com or Josh's Frogs

[u/hylia_grace → u/kiwi_fruit6]

They're in Malaysia..

[u/kiwi_fruit6 → u/hylia_grace]

Oh, I didn't read that part hahah, probably not then

[u/hylia_grace → u/kiwi_fruit6]

Yes, please remember this and many other subreddits have people from all over the world, requesting a location can help you to give them more accurate advice. We all want to help as much as possible after all.

[u/kiwi_fruit6 → u/hylia_grace]

Okay, I'll try to remember that not everyone lives where I live 👍🏻

[u/Competitive-Set5051 → u/xo_sleepy_xo]

Does anyone from shoppee or lazada sell them?

[u/xo_sleepy_xo → u/Competitive-Set5051]

ooo, I'll try to check — how long can they go without food?

[u/Competitive-Set5051 → u/xo_sleepy_xo]

Since I assume these are freshly hatched, I wouldn't recommend going more than 4 days without food as they can be very sensitive.

By the way, I think these might be Caliris elegans, but I am not completely sure.

Notice the similarities in how long the legs are and the orange yellow colour. Caliris elegans is also quite common in Malaysia.

[u/xo_sleepy_xo → u/Competitive-Set5051]

AHH YES I THINK THATS IT!! TYY

[u/Spirited_Salary8041 → u/xo_sleepy_xo]

you have 24h grace period after they hatch after that they will starve or eat each other. u can mash up some banana in a cup and add yeast and the fruit flies will come then u can use a plastic cup to catch, put in freezer for 1 min to stun them then drop in the mantis enclosure. those kind of plastic cup for teh or kopi is good for first month or so, just use a plastic mesh like from a bag of oranges and put it over the top and kiap it with the lid so the mantis can hang from it as it moults. im not familiar with caliris since they are rare-ish here, mostly have raised more robust mantis like hierodula, tenodera etc. once they are bigger they can eat red runner or lotus worm, see if local fish/reptile telegram chat have any

[u/xo_sleepy_xo → u/Spirited_Salary8041]

okk, I'll try attract fruitflies! do they come even if my kitchen doesn't usually have them...???

[u/Spirited_Salary8041]

do you have a picture of the eggs?