double shield mantis ootheca care?

[scorpanok]

my female double shield mantis produced an ootheca last night and I was wondering
how I should care for it.

 

[Tenevanica]

The same way you care for the mantis. The oothecae are under the same conditions as the adults in the wild, so they survive under the same conditions as the adults. Keep it at the same temperature and humidity as the adult, and you should be fine! (You don't have to feed it though ) You may want to move the ooth to an escape proof hatching container or your nymphs might escape when they hatch.

 

[scorpanok]

thanks and I will keep it as I keep the adults

 

[Jacob Ma]

Make sure the container is well ventiliated, but sprayed enough so the egg case does not dry up, nor should it have any fungal growths covering it. Was the female mated? If the female was not mated, then the egg case is infertile, and has no chance of producing nymphs.

 

[scorpanok]

she was mated I bought her and the male from a reptile expo also what do I do if there is fugal growth?

 

[Jacob Ma]

If there is the slightest trace of fungal growth, put a small fan or something temporarily on a low setting, or open the lid to the container for a bit. You can also expose it to some light, as long as it isn't too much lighting. I've heard you can use a little bit of lime or lemon (like a small drop or two). In most cases fungus doesn't grow anyways, so you shouldn't have to worry about it as long as you have a tall container with the egg case on the top of the cage with airholes that won't let the mantises escape. Make sure the egg case is at least a few inches off the ground, or some baby mantises may not live.

 

[jrh3]

my female double shield mantis produced an ootheca last night and I was wondering
how I should care for it.

i always glue to the lid on a 32 oz. deli cup with the poly vented lids, put a paper towel in the bottom and keep it moist. this will give enough humidity. for temps try to keep them the same as the adults.

 

[scorpanok]

i always glue to the lid on a 32 oz. deli cup with the poly vented lids, put a paper towel in the bottom and keep it moist. this will give enough humidity. for temps try to keep them the same as the adults.

the only problem with that is the ootheca is attached to the climing branch and the branch is too large to fit in a deli cup.

 

[Tenevanica]

the only problem with that is the ootheca is attached to the climing branch and the branch is too large to fit in a deli cup.

Just set the stick in some container. I wasn't incorrect when I said keep it like the adult. Keep the humidity and temp at the same temperature, and you'll be overrun with babies in no time.

 

[scorpanok]

Just set the stick in some container. I wasn't incorrect when I said keep it like the adult. Keep the humidity and temp at the same temperature, and you'll be overrun with babies in no time.

I have ben keeping the same as the adult and I plan on doing that until it hatches .

 

[dragonfire1577]

Maybe give slightly higher humidity than the adults so the babies don't get stuck on their way out.

 

[Jacob Ma]

Maybe give slightly higher humidity than the adults so the babies don't get stuck on their way out.

You can put a slightly damp paper towel/small sponge inside, and make sure it is slightly damp and not still dripping when you squeeze it tightly.

 

[scorpanok]

I have a moist piece of paper towel in there and with the adults

 

[scorpanok]

here is some pics of the ootheca and the father. View attachment 206317 View attachment 206318

 

[scorpanok]

I will post a pic of the mother later after she's done eating.

 

[Jacob Ma]

Really like the rust coloration on the male with the overall grayness of the mantis. It makes it look more metallic

 

[scorpanok]

unfortunately pics don't do him any justice .

 

[Jacob Ma]

Your camera seems to be really good with the pictures of them. That branch looks really cool, and looks like something I would put in a terrarium. Hope you do well with them

 

[scorpanok]

I hope they do good as well the only problem is that I don't no how big they will be so I don't know what I will feed them or how many there will be any suggestions?

 

[Jacob Ma]

They will be extremely small, probably no less than a centimeter, so giving them flightless fruit flies, springtails, freshly hatched baby lobster roaches, or pinhead crickets are all good options, and you can find some online or at your local pet store. Though I would recommend mainly springtails and fruit flies because they are the easiest to take care of. The babies need to be fed at least 2 times a day, so make sure you have a good amount of them.

There can be as many as 60-100+ of them depending on the size and quality of the egg case. You can keep them together for a bit, but will have to be moved away from each other after about their second molt, and may still to cannibalize each other before that. I can always take a few off your hand if you know what I'm saying