Hello I am considering purchasing a ghost mantis or maybe a different type of mantis if more ideal, is there any advice you all could give me? For instance I learned of someone from here it's not the best thing to feed a mantis crickets due to being prone to parasites but on Google it says to feed them crickets, I really would prefer a professional opinion like on here since you guys actually have mantids, here are my questions;

•Best thing to feed them when they're small? (Can't do fruit flies since they're pretty hard to use).

•Best thing to feed them when fully grown?

•Anything to avoid using in the tank as decoration for them (types of branches, leaves, ETC)?

•Any way to tell if they're happy and healthy?

•multiple food choices that are affordable (nothing cheap just saying I don't want to be having to spend ALOT, but am willing to pay quite a bit on locusts and a way to keep locusts and ETC).

•both good looking and ideal starter mantis?

UPDATE: have purchased everything I'll possibly need including some flightless fruit flies!