I thought I had too many melanos. Then I had a hatch.

[Malakyoma]

I have a booming melano culture that I haven't really been using at all. Everythings big enough for hydei or larger. Then last night I had this ooth hatch. I think its Tenodera, but I'm not sure. It was wild collected from China if that helps anyone identify. looks like 60+ nymphs.

At this point I was a little wowed

And I have another ooth just like it. and 2 more of a different species also wild collected.

 

[angelofdeathzz]

Congrats, they look to be Chinese for sure but that screen top won't keep ff's in, I'm sure you already know that though.

 

[Malakyoma]

Congrats, they look to be Chinese for sure but that screen top won't keep ff's in, I'm sure you already know that though.

Keeps in hydei not melanos. Will be transfering them into groups of 3 into BugTrader style nymph cups and also stealing Digger's idea to use nylon on top to keep melanos in.

 

[SilentDeviL]

Congratz Mike U finally got ur Chinese Mantis I'm happy for u They are wild collected So I was not sure if it will hatch but It all turn ot great haha Congratz .

 

[Malakyoma]

Congratz Mike U finally got ur Chinese Mantis I'm happy for u They are wild collected So I was not sure if it will hatch but It all turn ot great haha Congratz .

Still more ooths to hatch too. Could be drowning in them soon lol

 

[lancaster1313]

Might I suggest putting the majority of the nymphs into a large pretzel container or something bigger than 3 nymphs per cup, at least until they are second instar? With that species, you may end up with way too many cups if you separate them too early.

It will be much easier to feed them if they are in larger containers. Not to mention that you will have other oothecae hatching. It may not be much fun if you make too much work for yourself.

 

[Malakyoma]

I already have 12 cups ready who's old inhabitants moved into bigger homes. They're only big enough for 3 per cup, but that still takes care of half the nymphs. If I were to use other cups I'd have to make a few more. I guess nothing says I cant do both though.

 

[lancaster1313]

How many nymphs did you end up with?

When I hatched Chinese oothecae, I ended up with over 200 nymphs from one. That is why I made the suggestion.

I guess I had an image in my mind of >80 cups and got a little frightened. lol

However, if you have the time and the space...

 

[Malakyoma]

Looks like a little above 60. If I had 200 I'd be splitting them into groups of 20 lol.

 

[hibiscusmile]

a lot will die off before first molt, mist twice a day and keep your fingers crossed, they are a great mantis, u will love them.

 

[Malakyoma]

a lot will die off before first molt, mist twice a day and keep your fingers crossed, they are a great mantis, u will love them.

I've heard about the infamous L1 die offs in T. sinensis. Also not my first ooth so I'm ready for a couple to randomly keel over. Hopefully separating into smaller groups will reduce stress and reduce the die off as well.

 

[SilentDeviL]

How many nymphs did you end up with?

When I hatched Chinese oothecae, I ended up with over 200 nymphs from one. That is why I made the suggestion.

I guess I had an image in my mind of >80 cups and got a little frightened. lol

However, if you have the time and the space...

Looks like a little above 60. If I had 200 I'd be splitting them into groups of 20 lol.

a lot will die off before first molt, mist twice a day and keep your fingers crossed, they are a great mantis, u will love them.

I've heard about the infamous L1 die offs in T. sinensis. Also not my first ooth so I'm ready for a couple to randomly keel over. Hopefully separating into smaller groups will reduce stress and reduce the die off as well.

If was me ..... I would just keep them all together lol ...... By L4 see how many is left then pick out the strong ones ,.... I still diden't have time to separate my Double shield yet all I know is they have a lot of food lol .. I did see some Canbo ...they almost all L4 -L5 now I still see 50 + ... lol so I'm still good ... but i might need to do it soon If i want to breed this species lol ....

 

[Malakyoma]

If was me ..... I would just keep them all together lol ...... By L4 see how many is left then pick out the strong ones ,.... I still diden't have time to separate my Double shield yet all I know is they have a lot of food lol .. I did see some Canbo ...they almost all L4 -L5 now I still see 50 + ... lol so I'm still good ... but i might need to do it soon If i want to breed this species lol ....

I can tell they're stressing each other out having so many in such a tight space, plus I apparently missed some the web from the hot glue and I've seen them trip themselves up, so I'll move them and repurpose the enclosure. Not a big deal, dont lose a lot of time, and hopefully I'll end up with more healthy mantids because of it.

 

[Reptiliatus]

congrats

 

[Malakyoma]

So I got my initial count wrong. I've already separated 90 nymphs into groups of 3, 5, and 10, but there's still at least 20 in the original enclosure. A fair number of losses as well unfortunately. None of the losses were in the cups which had been separated though.