This is a medium growing species of mantis, with females getting to around 80cm.

.As with all mantises, keep in a tall enclosure with plenty of things to climb on, Temperature around 20-25c. The lower the temperature the slower the growth rate.

Due to its ease of care and reproductive reliability, C. morosus has been widely introduced to other countries through the pet trade and educational programs. It’s now established in parts of Europe, North America, and Australasia, often in controlled environments but occasionally as feral populations in greenhouses or subtropical gardens. Its global spread has made it one of the most recognizable phasmids, though it remains ecologically benign outside its native range thanks to its limited mobility and host specificity

Really?!, I hear you cry. Cockroaches?!

Cockroaches as a whole get a bad reputation. They are signed off as dirty and disgusting animals only found in dirty and disgusting places – however these animals are detritivores – they eat rotten muck and mulch, so they’re just there to clean up!

This large species is from Madagascar alongside animals like lemurs and panther chameleons. They are a non-infesting forest species so even if one got out in your house, there’s no reason to burn the house down. Squeamish readers will also be pleased to know that these cockroaches cannot fly, and prefer to burrow around and hide underneath cork flats. They are an excellent species for handling though can give some people a fright as – as their name suggests – they can produce a hissing sound by inflating themselves and pushing air out of their breathing holes (called spiracles) very quickly. This is just something to deter predators and it can be pretty loud!

Keep on mulch, leaf litter, moss, rotten soft wood for best success. Spray them down to keep them humid and offer flat pieces of cork for them to hide under and they will be plenty happy. Feed on soft fruits & leafy greens – things like dried sprats and high quality dog/cat kibble, goldfish flakes, dried mealworms for a bit of added protien and commercial livefood diets e.g. Reptile Systems insect food, Arcadia Livefood diet etc. The Spider Shop also sell a mixable roach diet which is great to offer alongside fresh stuff.

Safe to say we love these little guys and think they make A1 pets as they are so easy to care for and great for handling.

Size: up to 10 cm (females, males are slightly smaller)

Temperature: 25-28C day / 20-22 night

Humidity: Spraying 1x per 2-3 days

Difficulty Level: Easy

Shield Mantis (Rhombodera kirbyi) is a large species from Indonesia and specifically from Timor island where it is endemic to. Also this species is more shy and can be scared a bit more easily as its natural behaviour is hiding on leaves – you can see this specialisation even with it body shape (wide pronotum for example).

A well-ventilated terrestrial enclosure is perfect housing! (See our amazing coffin enclosure) A layer of dry substrate such as coco fibre, some decor to web up and some dry sphagnum moss is all they need.

Temperature & Humidity

• Temperature: 24°C -26°C

• Humidity: Dry conditions only

Feed appropriately sized live prey such as:

• Fruit flies

• green bottle/blue bottle flies

• Mealworms

Prey should be no larger than the spider’s body size. Feed two to three times a week, as needed.

• Spider size (0.5–1.5 cm) is approximate and may vary

Price varies dependant on size and color.