I'm just curious. Why do you mist them? Why do you mist them three times a week instead, say, of four times or once a week? How long after misting does the humidity in the pot stay higher than ambient? Do you use a substrate to retain the moisture? Have you ever tried keeping two ooths of the same species and similar age and misted one and not the other? If so, was there any difference in hatching time, success, nymph health, etc?Hi here you can se how I incubate ooths, works pretty well just need to adjust misting depending on your place I mist them tree tmes a week
I mist the container only
Well, that's a nicely reasoned answer, thank you! I kept a fish room (it ended up as a "fish basement ) for several decades, and I found that the humidity there was always in the eighties; I always had to watch out for mold showing up in odd places. YEMD, but it seems that your ooths are constantly exposed to a humidity substantially higher than mine and to that of most forum members.Well, as soon as I see a nymph thats has a hardened exoskeleton. I take it out and put it in a single jarI mist 3 times a week because the first time I misted 2 times a week and i got a creobroter ooth that produced half of the nyphs before getting wet( the other half hatched the next morning ) and another creobroter ooth had beter results misting 3 times a week,
I have a hight humidity because my mantis and ooths are keept in my fish breeding room
I think the only reason about humidity is that the ooth caould get harder and it would be difficult for them to hatchWell, that's a nicely reasoned answer, thank you! I kept a fish room (it ended up as a "fish basement ) for several decades, and I found that the humidity there was always in the eighties; I always had to watch out for mold showing up in odd places. YEMD, but it seems that your ooths are constantly exposed to a humidity substantially higher than mine and to that of most forum members. I have taken a dead Chinese ooth (from Ebay!) and soaked it in water overnight. I then dried it and sliced it from top to bottom. The foam was 7mm wide on either side and the width of the ooth, 27mm (>1"). I dusted it with the contents of one of those little silica desiccant pillows which contains a moisture indicator (anhydrous CuSO4 I guess) . No water had penetrated even the outer layer of foam, so I still can't see what good misting does unless applied, perhaps, directly after eclosure has begun. Sttill, at least you based your practice on experience.
It is possible that I am totally overlooking something here. Any other rationales?
I do put one layer of paper towel, cut in a circle to fit, in the bottom of my hatching cups. It does hold some moisture for a reasonable length of time. And it also helps prevent "death by puddles" when misting after hatching.You could just add something to hold in moisture. Then you might only have to mist once a week.
Thanx, Katt!I do put one layer of paper towel, cut in a circle to fit, in the bottom of my hatching cups. It does hold some moisture for a reasonable length of time. And it also helps prevent "death by puddles" when misting after hatching. I know only misting the inside of the container, or the substrate, and not the actual ooth itself, is something many people believe in and practice. But somehow, I just don't feel I'm really hydrating them if I don't mist the ooth itself. In my mind, the water needs to make physical contact with the surface of the ooth. I'm not saying I'm right... it's just what I believe. And it seems to work well for me.
Interesting experiment, Phil! I look forward to hearing your observations during the experiment, and your results at the conclusion. In describing treatment of #2, do you mean to mist the ooth directly, or indirectly (inside the container, but not actually misting the ooth's surface? That would also be a point I would be interested in. And one thing with how you plan to set up #3... If it were me, I wouldn't let the damp paper towel touch or stay in contact with the ooth. If they are constantly in contact, I think there is a good chance the ooth might likely just mold.
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