How often do you guys mist your ghost ooth?

[KuroKaze]

Hi, as the title states curious to know how much people mist their ghost ooths? Currently have 2 in incubation one was laid on May 25th and the 2nd was June 1st, temp is 80-82, i've been seeing alot of mixed things some twice a week other's everyday so on and so forth i cant really gauge the humidity since i dont have a hygrometer, one ooth i did once or twice a day if i felt the paper towel was completely dried out, but after reading a few places on twice a week im a bit worried now especially since i commonly see people say their ghost ooth hatch after about a month. Thanks for any and all replies in advance =D 

 

[Sarah K]

I mist my ghost ooth containers lightly everyday or every other day. Do not mist the ooth directly. 

 

[KuroKaze]

I mist my ghost ooth containers lightly everyday or every other day. Do not mist the ooth directly. 

Awesome thanks didnt do that with the first one as stated though it stays pretty hot in my bug room 80-85 so the water evaporates in about a hour, i've been lightly misting the 2nd ooth everyday or every other day hopefully in a couple weeks they will hatch realized the 14 mantids i currently have still not enough to keep me busy need my ghost babies =D

Also if you dont mind my asking do you mist your's at a certain time of day? I do mine late night or early early morning before bed (work nights) usually between 11pm-2am not sure if time matter's or not figure at night more humidity in the air naturally at night so tried to copy it.

 

[Serle]

With the ooths that I have incubated I had paper towel in the bottom of the container and just poured a little water in every second day or as long as the towel stayed moist. Except Blepharopsis mendica that I leave dry ....... S

 

[Kermit]

Agree with @Sarah K

Don't mist the ooth directly. The ooths are gonners if mold grows from stagnant water and poor ventilation.

Ghost ooths take approximately 60 days to hatch.

Invest in a hydrometer... ($6)

Also if you want to be a real Mantis pro get one of laser guns that shoots a beam at any target and gives you a high accuracy temperature reading.

I paid $29 at Home Depot... Best money I ever spent. Temps can vary by 5-10 degrees from the bottom to the top of an enclosure. You can check a mantis body temperature (or ooth, or fruit fly cultures) and get real time temps. 

 

[KuroKaze]

Hi serle, thats essentially what i did on the first one kept the paper towel moist (not damp) 24/7 after about a month i started to notice what appeared to be mould forming much like white fuzz which made me thing i was maybe giving it too much humidity cleaned it once lightly with a qtip then a couple days later i noticed a little more making me assume mould, i cleaned it one last time stopped misting it for a couple days and kept it in my dubia closet (stays 88-92 in this area) then brought it back out in my normal bug room of 80-85 and switched to lightly misting once a night and it hasnt came back also i did notice the "assumed mould" never appeared along the seal/crack where nymphs come out hoping i caught it in time i pretty much watch this stuff 24/7 which makes it seem even more slow -_-

 

[KuroKaze]

Hi kermit, I may have to down the road currently got a few hundred dropped in this "small project" after only a month lol, doubtful its going to stop anytime soon that will be the next couple things i pick up though i just dont trust them i've honestly have had horrible luck with those meter's use to be in mycology many years ago and most of them just die from being constantly bombarded by water evaporation most of mine never lasted a month any specific brands brands i should look into? And yea lol i never mist the ooth directly its attached too a stick thats hot glued on a fabric insect lid thats on a 32oz insect/deli cup with paper towel and wood wool and 2nd same thing just in a 16oz deli cup was told 16oz is fine on ghost mantis ooth.

 

[Sarah K]

No sure if anyone else has had issues with incubating  ghost ooths at higher temperatures, but I have experienced lower hatch rates if incubation temps are above 80F. I have mine incubating between 77F and 78F and it seems to work well for me.

Can someone chime in to confirm that they have had success with incubating at higher temps? I am curious to know if it is one of those things that are different for everyone (therefore does not really matter eitherway), or if it actually makes an real definitive difference for this species.

 

[KuroKaze]

I cant really control the temp my bug room is my room it just stay's between 80-85 not much i can do about it i do my best with fans to regulate it and try to keep it around 80-82 its pretty rare for it to go higher but today since its near 100 outside its staying around 84 :/ 

Edit: Though the living room stays around 70-72 only other area i could put them, but few people i talked too just told me to keep them in my room where it stays around 80-82 99% of the time.

 

[Kermit]

I know what you mean about the hydrometers? no suggestions on brands

I've always have had success with Ghost hatches at mid 70's, and spray papertowls every other day. Air flow is key too.

60 days is what ? take to hatch, which puts you in range for hatches over the next two weeks. *** If fertilized ??

Good luck and let us know any updates.

I'm set for updates on this thread!

 

[KuroKaze]

Yea i wondered about airflow though i do see a majority of people do the same thing insect deli cups with cloth/fabric lids and just hot glue the twig the ooth is laid on to the top, so i just copied what appears to work, wonder if its worth punching a few side holes in them or not really hate to mess up on my first 2 ooths. For sure i'll keep ya'll updated.

 

[KuroKaze]

Update: Still no hatch on either ooth on a side note, finally got a adult female out of the wild caught Carolina nymphs in May, will wait a few weeks then put her outside in a butterfly cage see if I can attract a male to pair her with the males I have are way behind in moults. The ooths are making me cry. ; ;

 

[hibiscusmile]

I did not read all the post just enough to see you guys say don't mist ooth directly. That makes no sense

and do not take offense. Let me ask you, do you think the ooths do not get wet in the wild? Certainly they

do!!! There is no reason not to mist the ooths. If you are worried about mold, then throw out the container

and get one that has enough air to not allow mold. If the container will allow mold to grow, then the mantis

is sure to suffer too.

ps I look forward to replies.