u/OppositeLibrary1024

Can I use this container for my Indian Bark Mantis? I will poke breathing-holes in the the sides and the lid or cover the top of the container with a mesh-cloth, line the floor with a paper, keep sticks and the other things which the mantis can use to hang from, etc. I will try my best to make the enclosure a good one for my mantis? But is this closure ok? Are there any other advise, suggestions or tips I have to know about? I am new to raising mantises.

https://www.reddit.com/r/mantids/comments/1t2ta99/help_new_mantis_raiser_need_advice_and_tips/

I found an Indian Bark Mantis(probably) on last Thursday. I kept it in a temporary shelter made by putting two medicine bottle caps on top of one another with a paper for the floor, and a piece of stick inside. I am feeding it household casebearer larvae since it is the most common insect here. For some reason it does not drink water when I hold a drop in front of its mouth or catch the larvae when I place it in front of it. So I had to hold it lightly and then when I put the larvae in front of its mouth, it ate it. It sometimes grooms its forelegs, so since I don't have anything to mist water, sometimes I put a drop of water in its head which it then licks while grooming. It molted succesfully today. I gave it some water in the method I mentioned. Can anyone help me about where to keep it, other tips, how to make it hunt and drink water, how to calm it, etc.?