What to do with an unexpected Mantis religiosa sac!??!!

MrsHaas

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 1, 2012
Messages
875
Ladies and Gentlemen,
My son found a full grown female Mantis religiosa and brought it home...
Two days later she laid a sac (2 weeks ago)...!!
What are my options? How long do I have before they hatch? How much are they worth individually? Etc.
I want to know everything about hatching them bc I think I might actually do it...
I have ZERO experience with mantis’ so I’m a bit over my head!
My options are 1)free food for my tarantulas; 2)selling in bulk 3)selling individually, etc...
I don’t know... I want to know everything I need to know if I decide to go thru with hatching the sac... I’m still on the fence. Either way I need the knowledge to feel ok with the decision I make.
Any answers welcome!! Thank you!!
 
Last edited:

rosenkrieger

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 23, 2007
Messages
88
They have to have a cold period before they hatch. If it's a native species, I'd just put the egg case back outside. mount it to a vertical surface like a wall or fence and let it over-winter and hatch outside.
 

MrsHaas

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 1, 2012
Messages
875
Hi again everyone,
I have some bad news.
Sammy (my kid named the Mantis religiosa) has died...

Her egg sac hasn’t hatched yet. I’m totally inexperienced- any advice welcome!
 

MrGhostMantis

Arachnoprince
Joined
Jun 26, 2019
Messages
1,007
Keep it in a 32oz deli cup if you want to keep babies, AKA hot glue the underside of the ooth to a fabric lid and mist every 2-3 days with bottled water. Keep it in the fridge for 1-2 months and it should hatch a few weeks after you take it out if it’s fertile.
 

MrsHaas

Arachnoangel
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 1, 2012
Messages
875
I’ve heard of nymphs being used as feeders, and opinions in that?
 
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