Mantivil are palm-sized bugs known for their keen intelligence and quick reflexes. They're carnivorous ambush predators, and they prefer to be surrounded by plants and decorations that match their own colors so that they better blend in. They wait patiently for prey, and then they use their curved forelimbs to grip onto them before dealing a finishing bite. They have excellent vision that they use to locate prey, and prefer to hunt during the daytime as a result. Mantivil are among the few invertipets that appear to have "pupils", but they actually have compound eyes - it's just a trick of the light!

Mantivil are common pets for the intermediate invertipet enthusiast. Being ambush predators, they're content with any space as long as it has enough places to hide and perch. However, it's best to handle mantivil regularly or offer other forms of enrichment, as otherwise they can get bored. They're capable of learning tricks, and they are sometimes known to cause mischief by "redecorating" their spaces or escaping their enclosures. They should be kept alone, and can be fed any kind of feeder insect. They're healthiest with a varied diet.

They have a reputation for cannibalism, particularly in mated pairs. However, this is rare in the wild and is actually a result of stress. If breeding mantivil in captivity, make sure to provide a large enclosure with thick foliage and separate the two mantivil as soon as possible!