First breeding attempt.

[Synapze]

This week I'll be attempting my first mating. I have 2 males arriving, one wild and one hand raised. I plan to mate the wild caught first, and then the hand raised if things work don't work... my female Chinese is very aggressive. ?

I'm following Rick's method. Does anyone have any tips or warnings to add?



If she immediately attacks and kills her first mate, should I even attempt another? I don't want to just sit there and feed her males.

If she kills and begins devouring the first, should I view this as a good distraction to try to mount the second male? 

Any other suggestions?

Thanks! 

 

[ausar318]

That is an interesting approach, letting the second male breed while the other is beans eaten. I think it will work, if it needs to come to that. Nonetheless, I would give the female an extra large grasshopper or roach to distract her while the male males his move  if she drops her food, and attacks the male, she may not be ready to be bred. If you can save the male, you can try again after a couple days. Just because she attacks him, that doesn’t mean she has to eat him, but this requires you to sit and watch them for possibly hours  

I have a good feeling, though, that the wild male you are being sent is a huge one. Something also tells me that they are both definitely ready to mate ?. So as long as your female is at least three weeks old as an adult, it should be safe to attempt mating. Chinese mantids can be a bit challenging to breed, but with a bit of knowledge, and a lot of luck, it is definitely possible. 

So to answer your question, if she eats one male, I wouldn’t try to mate immediately. If she isn’t receptive to the male, it means she just isn’t ready. I would rather hold off a few days before I try again. 

 

[Synapze]

@ausar318 If she goes full on savage and rips him apart immediately upon sight, I'll most likely just save your hand raised male and find him a more receptive and less aggressive female, or simply care for him until his final days. ?

 

[Prayingmantisqueen]

my female Chinese is very aggressive

Mating seeme to calm mine down.. She is so sweet now for previously being wild caught.

 

[minomantis]

I literally bred two different female mantids yesterday.  Here are my tips.

1) Make sure the female is at least 3 weeks old.  If not, I would wait longer.  I know it can be exciting, but the longer you wait, the better. 

2) Make sure she is fed and I'm not talking just one big roach or grasshopper.  Give her two or three.  Just a couple big meals will help

3) Don't force anything, let it happen naturally. I put my female on a house plant and let her climb and then put the male BEHIND her towards the bottom and let them do the rest.  The reason I say don't force it is she will release pheromones in the evening and the male will naturally go to her.  Once my males locked on to the female, they didn't move until it was dark in the room.  They know what they are doing.

4) Have patience.  I know you'll probably want to see it, but sometimes letting them do their own thing is best or watch from a distance.

Truly, goodluck and keep us updated!

 

[MantisGirl13]

I hope that you can mate successfully, @Synapze! Keep us updated, and keep the female busy with food.

- MantisGirl13

 

[Prayingmantisqueen]

I did it so I know you can do it! God bless your efforts!

 

[Synapze]

Make sure she is fed and I'm not talking just one big roach or grasshopper.  Give her two or three.  Just a couple big meals will help

I think I'll be making the attempt over the weekend. The males arrive Thursday (if USPS cooperates) so I plan on giving them a day or so to settle from the trip. Should I start feeding her very heavy beginning now until the big day? She's ravenous! I'll be collecting some large prey to keep her occupied while the male does his duty. Poor guy.

 

[minomantis]

Oh yes,  I would start now so she is less inclined to eat the male and feed her good!  I fed my female Chinese mantis 3 of those big wood borrowing bees and she could've eaten way more if there were more.  Also what Ausar said about not every attack is an "I'm gonna eat you attack."  All about watching and reading the behavior.  Good luck!

 Just because she attacks him, that doesn’t mean she has to eat him, but this requires you to sit and watch them for possibly hours  

 

[Synapze]

@minomantis Great, I've increased her feeding since she laid the ooth. I'll make sure she's nice and plump before her guys arrive, leaving enough room for her to be interested in a big meal to keep her occupied when the time comes. I fed her nine BBFs witb chopsticks yesterday and she still wanted more. ?

 

[Mantis Lady]

Good luck with mating.? Hope it goes fine and no male deads.

 

[MantisGirl13]

Did the males arrive safely?

- MantisGirl13

 

[ausar318]

They are out for delivery now, estimated time of delivery, 11:25 - 1:25. Its 12:30 now, so it will be any minute now

 

[MantisGirl13]

I hope they arrived safely!

- MantisGirl13