I caught my praying mantis in early October here in MN. I saved her from a certain death situation at where I work, a Lowes store. I had thought she wasn't pregnant because she wasn't fat at all. Now it seems within the past day she laid her ootheca on the ventilated top of the cage! By the way she would have died from the frost before she could have laid it so don't blame me for catching her.
I need to figure out what I am supposed to do here. First off I need to know how much time I have until they hatch. I know that my current cage's housing would not contain them. Also, I need to know whether I can somehow remove the ootheca from the cage top without harming it and put it in a proper cage, or maybe stage it outside if it isn't too late.
Also, I have no idea how to feed the little guys once they hatch as I hear they need small food like gnats and stuff. All I can get are crickets which are too big.
I am in panic mode here and desperately need some help!
I need to figure out what I am supposed to do here. First off I need to know how much time I have until they hatch. I know that my current cage's housing would not contain them. Also, I need to know whether I can somehow remove the ootheca from the cage top without harming it and put it in a proper cage, or maybe stage it outside if it isn't too late.
Also, I have no idea how to feed the little guys once they hatch as I hear they need small food like gnats and stuff. All I can get are crickets which are too big.
I am in panic mode here and desperately need some help!