Egyptian dwarf mantis (Miomantis paykullii)

Short answers

Egyptian dwarf mantis: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Adult from 30 × 30 × 30 cm for a single animal (specialist sources give 30 × 30 × 30 to 30 × 30 × 40 cm); rule of thumb: at least three times the body length in height and twice in width. Juveniles up to about instar L4 in correspondingly smaller, well-ventilated containers.

Egyptian dwarf mantis: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 25–30 °C, basking spot no warm spot needed, at night 20–22 °C.

Egyptian dwarf mantis: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Egyptian dwarf mantis: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: males approx. 4–6 months, females approx. 6–9 months from hatching (of which around 2 months to the adult moult).

Egyptian dwarf mantis: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

25–30 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

no warm spot needed

Humidity

50–65 %

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

Adult from 30 × 30 × 30 cm for a single animal (specialist sources give 30 × 30 × 30 to 30 × 30 × 40 cm); rule of thumb: at least three times the body length in height and twice in width. Juveniles up to about instar L4 in correspondingly smaller, well-ventilated containers.

Substrate

Coco humus, slightly damp

Feeding

Food

Exclusively live insects, graded by larval stage: L1–L2 small fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster), L3–L4 large fruit flies (Drosophila hydei), from L5 greenbottle flies (Lucilia), adults blowflies (Calliphora). Small crickets only individually and under supervision, grasshoppers only in a suitable size because of their hind legs.

Feeding interval

every 1–2 days

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 3.5–4.5 cm

Life expectancy

males approx. 4–6 months, females approx. 6–9 months from hatching (of which around 2 months to the adult moult)

Origin

Large parts of Africa — Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe — as well as Israel

Protection status

Not protected

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Keep them singly; cannibalistic. The reason is not fighting but feeding: these animals take anything that fits in the mouth, and a second animal in the enclosure counts.

Notes

Small, undemanding and fast-growing — one of the best beginner's mantids. It takes drier air than the tropical species.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Spiny flower mantis (Pseudocreobotra wahlbergii) – Beginner to intermediate
• African giant mantis (Sphodromantis lineola) – Beginner
• African giant mantis (Sphodromantis viridis) – Beginner
• Asian ant mantis (Odontomantis planiceps) – Beginner
• Giant Asian mantis (Hierodula patellifera) – Beginner
• Banded flower mantis (Theopropus elegans) – Intermediate
• Boxer mantis (Ephestiasula pictipes) – Intermediate
• Brunner's boxer mantis (Hestiasula brunneriana) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Egyptian dwarf mantis (Miomantis paykullii) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (Adult from 30 × 30 × 30 cm for a single animal (specialist sources give 30 × 30 × 30 to 30 × 30 × 40 cm); rule of thumb: at least three times the body length in height and twice in width. Juveniles up to about instar L4 in correspondingly smaller, well-ventilated containers.), substrate (Coco humus, slightly damp), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.