I have two pair of adult unicorns and they won't mate. They have individual enclosures but are staying in the 'breeding tank' right now. One female is not mature so there is one female and two males in a large terrarium. They don't do anything! Every few days I took them out to feed (I was out of flies and crix don't make it to the top of the breeding tank). During one of those 'breaks', the female cast a beautiful, unfertilized ooth! She's barely a month old. I have experimented removing one male and leaving only a pair and there seems to be more interest then, but not much. My flies hatched so they are staying in the terrarium and still nothing. My experience with other species has been very positive - immediate interest and copulation. What do I do? And when the immature female is old enough is it a bad idea to have two females in a large enclosure with abundant prey? Should I put a pair in a smaller enclosure? Help?!
Help with my P. chlorophaea please!
- Thread starter Precious
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Mantida
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Argh, I've had mating problems with P. chlorophaea also. Glad I'm not the only one out there.
My male would always mount but the females would not be receptive as they will try their best to get the male off and he, unfortunately, yields and lets go.
I remember Yen saying something about some of the males being really skittish, and it's wise to get another more aggressive male to replace him for mating.
What happens? Does he stare at her, or not even notice her, or notices her but she reacts back?
Hi,
Do you have any branches in the breeding tank? I found that if there were more branches the males tended to mount the females more.
Also, Yen gave me a little tip - raise the heat. I have alway kept the unicorns between 80-85 degrees, but raising the heat to 90 really helped, the male showed a lot more interest and the females were a lot more receptive.
Also, with the branches the male found it easier to mount the female, I guess it's harder to mount if your both hanging on the top of the net cage. I just left them together and they finally worked it out.
I have successfully mated all of my females now
Cheers
Do you have any branches in the breeding tank? I found that if there were more branches the males tended to mount the females more.
Also, Yen gave me a little tip - raise the heat. I have alway kept the unicorns between 80-85 degrees, but raising the heat to 90 really helped, the male showed a lot more interest and the females were a lot more receptive.
Also, with the branches the male found it easier to mount the female, I guess it's harder to mount if your both hanging on the top of the net cage. I just left them together and they finally worked it out.
I have successfully mated all of my females now
Cheers
Sorry for the late reply.
If the female have both age and food, then try to increase the temperature, it is difficult during cooler winter but you can use a heat lamp. This species is from Southern Texas accustomed to arid and hot weather. So yes as Andy mentioned, crank up the heat. Best of luck Precious and Mantida.
If the female have both age and food, then try to increase the temperature, it is difficult during cooler winter but you can use a heat lamp. This species is from Southern Texas accustomed to arid and hot weather. So yes as Andy mentioned, crank up the heat. Best of luck Precious and Mantida.
Y
yen
Guest
Andy, how is your Texas unicorn doing? Last time i heard from you was that they are pairing up alright for you. All the best.Hi,Do you have any branches in the breeding tank? I found that if there were more branches the males tended to mount the females more.
Also, Yen gave me a little tip - raise the heat. I have alway kept the unicorns between 80-85 degrees, but raising the heat to 90 really helped, the male showed a lot more interest and the females were a lot more receptive.
Also, with the branches the male found it easier to mount the female, I guess it's harder to mount if your both hanging on the top of the net cage. I just left them together and they finally worked it out.
I have successfully mated all of my females now
Cheers
I have two females and one male. The first time I tried mating them it went well and I had no issues. But right now I am trying to mate the other female and while the male shows some interest in her he mounts and then crawls up and over her head. Do you guys keep them together? She doesn't seem to want to eat him but he is my only male.
I have kept them together before, but adult female tend to hurt the advancing male, not that she sees him as food source and devour the male, and i end up with male with broken legs. Now on the new geenration, i separate the adult male so he can live longer for future mating purpose.
The are doing great, as I mentioned to you before they are my best species, they are full of characterAndy, how is your Texas unicorn doing? Last time i heard from you was that they are pairing up alright for you. All the best.
I have sucessfully mated all my females and have many oothecaes laid, I am now just waiting for the first one to hatch. It won't be long before it's raining unicorns
I have left them together without any problems, never had any injuries as yet, I have seen the female bat the male away, but that's about it. However, I don't think I would risk it with only a single male though.
I find sometimes they pair up really quickly and other times he just walks straight over the female, but I normaly find turning up the heat helps.
I have also put the male into a cage with three or four females until he finds his partner, then take the other females out, I find that works well for me. It's a shame other species can't get on together as well as unicorns, imagine leaving an Orchid male with three females, or in fact just three orchid females together.
Cheers
Andy
THat's great Andy. Try to keep the several males individually, so you could use them again to remate female after they lay 4-5 ooth (if you need to). I am sure you have loads of fruit flies culture ready for the hatchling
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Thanks for all the replies. I have placed both pair together (they have an abundance of food) and they stay very close without incident and without copulation I'm going to ramp up the heat and I'll let you know. I have seen one male crawl over a female and that's as close to love as we've gotten. Maybe some Barry White!
I'm going to ramp up the heat and I'll let you know. I have seen one male crawl over a female and that's as close to love as we've gotten. Maybe some Barry White!
