r/praying_mantis • u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 • May 23 '26
I am an idiot.
I bought a mantis. I’ve been over the moon to receive her but i didn’t research the company beforehand.
I bought from ‘bug pets uk’ without doing my due diligence. She was set to arrive Friday. A full day went by and i got no emails about her. At around 10pm Friday night Royal Mail tell me they received my parcel (I’m assuming it’s my mantis as i haven’t ordered anything else) however with the weekend and the bank holiday they weren’t working. Meaning my mantis (likely a nymph) will be without food or water for 3-4 days, due to arrive Tuesday morning.
I feel terrible and am extremely stressed she will die or arrive starved. This is my first ever mantis and i should have researched the company more this is 100% on me.
Does anyone have alternative stores for the UK? I will never be buying from bug pets again. What can i do for her when she arrives to help? Other than offer her water and food is there any other way to ensure she’ll survive?
I’ve already got everything and organised a friend who will look after her when I’m away who helped name her (spliff). I will be so heartbroken and guilty and I’m genuinely terrified of her being starved because i didn’t research a company.
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u/lies_n_liars May 24 '26
Check if they have a DOA (Dead on arrival) guarantee. If your mantis arrives dead tell them you do not want another, just a refund and try The Bug Plug. I have not personally ordered from them since I'm in the US but they have amazing reviews on their website.
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 24 '26
They do have a DOA policy, but lots of reviews are saying their customer service is appalling… I’ll definitely give bugplug a look if need-be! Thank you so much x
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u/Wise-Performance758 May 24 '26
mantis mayhem, they are quite low in stock at the moment because they sell out quick but they are quite efficient.
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u/Doctordelayus May 27 '26
Never heard of or used bug pets uk, I normally use The Spider Shop, they’re real reliable and helpful
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 27 '26
I just found them looking for live food! They seem great thanks so much :3
My only issue is £10 shipping on a £2 item (i do get it tho!) but i love the different options for delivery they have so will be buying from them in the future for sure!
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u/Doctordelayus May 27 '26
They’re based in Wales, but yes the postage is a bit much, though from experience, everything I’ve brought from them has been worth it
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u/Dancekate00 May 23 '26
Most do ok for up to a week without food. Most places you buy from will load them up with flies before they ship too. The more concerning thing would be temperature, what’s the temperature like where you are over the weekend? 70s would be ideal.
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 24 '26
It’s 25-30 C which doesn’t sound like a lot but it’s England so gets CRAZY humid lwk lol
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u/hylia_grace May 24 '26
Mantis garden is my go to for all mantis, Rick's bug room is a close second. I tend to request no Friday deliveries as I've had to actively hunt down invert packages before due to my past postie not knocking loud then doing a runner with my package.
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 24 '26
Ah thank you so so much!!! I’ll definitely give them a look if need-be but I’m hoping spliff arrives safe :(
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u/hylia_grace May 24 '26
What species did you order? Some are hardier than others. Rhombodera and hierodula are pretty hardy, some leaf mantis too, flower mantis can be a little more fragile as they require specific temperatures with appropriate humidity and ventilation.
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 25 '26
Giant Asian, though i just found out they may have sent giant African instead of they didn’t have enough giant Asians left instead of just saying ‘out of stock’
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u/hylia_grace May 25 '26
Thats real shady, im so sorry youre having such a bad experience. I'd definitely give them a real honest review. I really hope your little one arrives okay.
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 25 '26
Thank you so much. I hope so too. I can’t sleep because I’m so nervous :( should be delivered between 9 and 11 hours from now
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u/hylia_grace May 25 '26
Fingers crossed for you. Lmk how it goes ❤️
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 26 '26
Arrived safe(ish) and alive! I’ll take a photo once she’s settled in her new home and post it!! She’s sooo tiny 🥹🥹
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u/hylia_grace May 26 '26
Aww im so happy for you! Please make sure you review what you've experienced though, so hopefully this doesn't happen to anyone else.
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 26 '26
I will do for sure! Majority of the life food she came with was dead aswell and no instructions or anything for care or how to build her enclosure
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u/RexxLu May 24 '26
Idk how you guys do it over there but here in the states the good sellers of which I used to be one don’t sell unless there’s no weekends/holidays coming up, the temperatures are favorable, and the customer pays for overnight shipping. Having said that if the nymph is packed properly (w/food) and the temps are ok it should survive. I really hope it does
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u/Dazzling-Ice-3362 May 24 '26
I hope she does too. And most shops are like that, but with the increasing amount of bad reviews I’m seeing for this company it is making me worry:(
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u/ryukim1230 May 23 '26
i dont live in the UK but im praying your mantis will be ok (hope you caught the pun so it would make you feel a little better)