praying mantis eggsac! What do I do?

[intrepidus6]

Ifound a praying mantis on my porch last week and decided to keep it in a ten gallon tank, I only intended to keep her for a little while, and then let her go. However, just two nights ago she laid an eggsac. What should I do now?

Thanks

 

[OTwolfe]

Mantis Eggsacs need to be exposed to outside temps or they will not develop...perhaps leave it in an unheated garage or shed for protection. Then, enjoy watching the babies at hatching time.

 

[intrepidus6]

Thanks, should i leave the mantis in the cage with the eggsac, or seperate them? And it's Autumn here, will the cold kill them?

How long will it take them to hatch?

What do the babies eat?

Thanks

 

[intrepidus6]

Does anyone know the answers to my questions?

 

[beetleman]

Thanks, should i leave the mantis in the cage with the eggsac, or seperate them? And it's Autumn here, will the cold kill them?

How long will it take them to hatch?

What do the babies eat?

Thanks

you can seperate her from the sac,she won't live that long,she's most likely at the end of her lifecycle(keep her till the end)when the eggcase is outside,it takes all winter,then when it warms up it will hatch,but being inside where it is warmer maybe sooner,the babies will eat fruitflies,each other,tiny pinhead crickets. hope this helps alittle

 

[intrepidus6]

So is it best to leave them inside then?

And they eat each other?! So I have to seperate all of them??

 

[yen_saw]

So is it best to leave them inside then?

And they eat each other?! So I have to seperate all of them??

YOu can remove the female or remove the egg case. I would remove the egg case and glue the egg case on another large jars, when it hatched, you can separate them or they will eat each other.

 

[Ted]

i would let most of them go after they hatch.
separating and feeding a ton of them is daunting.
its much easier and more successful to focus on a half dozen or so and feed the heck out of them!

 

[intrepidus6]

Thanks everyone! You have all been very helpfull. I will put the eggsac outside in a jar and leave the mantis inside, and when they hatch i'll let them go except for about 5 of them.

 

[sydster]

I know! take a tread neadle and stick and sew the eggcase on to a stick. Only put the needle along the surface or else the eggs will get pocked. Then put the egg case with the stick out side on a tree or push and next summer it will hatch.

 

[intrepidus6]

When she laid the eggsac she laid it on a stick that was in the cage. And I want to keep atleast a couple of the babies so Leaveing it out in the open won't do.