H. coronatus -- Need Ooth Advice

[neps]

A few weeks back, I tried to mate my H. coronatus. The male mounted successfully, and rode around for several days, but I never did see copulation actually take place. It might have, but I did not witness it. Now, my female has laid an ooth. Unfortunately, she placed it near the bottom of her enclosure, directly on the container surface, in such a location that is is going to be damn-near impossible to remove it. I've attached images:

From the top, looking into the container:

http://home.comcast.net/~jneps/pwpimages/OothFront.jpg

From the outside of the container:

http://home.comcast.net/~jneps/pwpimages/OothBack.jpg

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that, short of cutting into it, there is no way to tell if it's fertile, right?

Also, any ideas about how to remove this, or how to incubate it? I figure that I could invert the container without removing the ooth; that way, if nymphs do hatch, the ooth will be oriented properly so that they can descend as they should.

Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Rick]

It can be removed. However, you would need to wait until it is fully dried. I would give it a week minimum. However, if you can invert the container I would do that instead. Care for the ooth is basically the same as care for the adult. Warm, and moderate humidity. No way to know if fertile. Even cutting it open at this stage isn't going to tell you anything as they look the same either way. Just gonna have to wait it out. They typically take 30-45 days or so to hatch. I would try mating them again. Chances are if you didn't see copulation then they didn't mate. Orchids can be difficult to mate.

 

[neps]

Thanks for the info, Rick! Sadly, I cannot attempt to mate them again, for both of my males dropped dead from old age.

 

[hibiscusmile]

Rick is right, but dont give up on the ooth, they could of mated.

 

[neps]

Thanks, Rebecca!