Feeding newly hatched nymphs

[cdcrocks]

My chinese ooth finally hatched yesterday, and now I've got at least 200 babies. I tossed some flightless D. melanogaster into one of the containers 2 or 3 hours after I think they hatched (I was at school when they were hatching so I'm not sure exactly when it was), expecting the nymphs to go after them right away. However, nearly 24 hours later, I don't think any of them have eaten. Is it normal to have to wait a day or two before they start hunting, or should I be worried? What do I do to make them eat? The flies would literally walk right up to them, touch their legs, and the mantises would scurry off somewhere else. Also, how many nymphs would you recommend putting in a quart sized mason jar? And should I mist the jar with a spray bottle or put a bit of moistened sponge in it? I've heard of people doing both. And how often would I do that?

Thank you!

 

[Shadow]

I usually wait a few days before I feed nymphs but mist them

 

[patrickfraser]

It is better to wait a few days. You could lose less due to cannibalism by waiting than you could lose by stressing them out. Wait a couple days or until you see an unlucky sibling getting munched. Mist lightly daily.

 

[cdcrocks]

Thanks for the info, I just misted them and they were bent over drinking pretty much instantly. I took the flies I'd put in out, I'll put some more flies in the day after tomorrow if I don't see them eating each other before then. It's good to know that it's normal, I was pretty worried.

 

[cdcrocks]

They've eaten what flies I have, and I gave the rest some maggots along with a bunch of tiny green caterpillars I found on the rose bushes. I'm glad they're eating, but I hope the pupa in my culture hatch out soon, or I'll have to find even more wild food.