How warm do Spiny flower mantis oothecas need to be?

[happy1892]

Hello. How warm do you have to keep P. wahlbergii oothecas to hatch well? 77F? I had a couple Spiny flower mantis oothecas hatch two days ago and yesterday, but the nymphs got stuck while trying to hatch. I have kept my mantises down to about 68F these past few weeks, but raised it to about 75F just a week or so ago because my L5 P. wahlbergii nymphs wouldn't eat well at that cool temperature. My dad turned the heater down yesterday, and so the room went below 70F when the P. wahlbergii hatched. Here is a video I made of the failed to hatch oothecas:


Today, my room was down to about 64F. I am going to get a better heater that can heat my room better to keep the mantises warm during winter.

 

[agent A]

I'd keep them above 80F
mine are thriving at 95, already eating bottleflies

 

[hibiscusmile]

Do u have a tv or radio that if you sat the container on would give off heat?

 

[agent A]

Do u have a tv or radio that if you sat the container on would give off heat?

Rebecca,
I love you very much. You're very sweet and smart. But please remember that a LOT of today's versions of devices don't release excess heat, as they've been engineered to be more energy-efficient

 

[happy1892]

Do u have a tv or radio that if you sat the container on would give off heat?

No, we don't have a TV. I used to watch a lot of old sitcoms that my dad bought for us, but we haven't watched TV for many years. The refrigerators and freezers that might also produce heat are kept outside on our front porch. My sister and I went to Wal-Mart yesterday and got a heater. It is working well, and is powerful enough to heat my room to 75F easily!

 

[happy1892]

One of the oothecae continued to try to hatch more nymphs yesterday. Only a couple got hatched out alive. With the cooler temperatures, the Spiny flower mantis oothecas will have nymphs try to hatch over a few days, instead of all in one day as they did when it was warm in the summer.

 

[agent A]

dude, get some heat tape and a thermostat
I'll send you a prewired length for the cost of materials if you want, I just need to order more wire/plugs/grommets

 

[happy1892]

dude, get some heat tape and a thermostat
I'll send you a prewired length for the cost of materials if you want, I just need to order more wire/plugs/grommets

Thanks! I did not know about heat tape. It might be good to use for the Turkestan roaches that I have on the front porch to keep them warm through the winter. I could put the roaches in a plastic container, and then put their plastic container in a large insulated box with heat tape. I am looking up what heat tape is online now.

 

[Introvertebrate]

With a high-end thermostat, heat tape has a lot of potential for growth. You can start with one sheet, and then add more as your needs increase. The tape itself isn't that pricy. I believe the snake folks lay it under the enclosure to provide belly heat. Invert folks seem to prefer side heat.

 

[agent A]

With a high-end thermostat, heat tape has a lot of potential for growth. You can start with one sheet, and then add more as your needs increase. The tape itself isn't that pricy. I believe the snake folks lay it under the enclosure to provide belly heat. Invert folks seem to prefer side heat.

I just use the el cheapo BN link thermostats
I also have a good renter's insurance policy just in case...

i prefer bottom heat tbh

 

[happy1892]

With a high-end thermostat, heat tape has a lot of potential for growth. You can start with one sheet, and then add more as your needs increase. The tape itself isn't that pricy. I believe the snake folks lay it under the enclosure to provide belly heat. Invert folks seem to prefer side heat.

That heat tape sounds like a good thing to have! I could use it for species that need to stay hot, such as Devils flower mantises. Otherwise I would have to heat a separate room for those heat loving species. I might go to Lowe's hardware to get some heat tape.