Re-mating isn't strictly necessary, most keepers do it as it provides larger ooths (more eggs per ooth) in the latter ooths; however, once a female has been successfully mated once, her ooths should be fertile even later on. If the male did connect with Gypsy he most likely bred even without his head.I do have 2 more male ghosts (1 adult, 1 sub-adult), and 1 Carolina male left, but after this experience, I am wondering how necessary it is to remate them at all, I mean especially if the girls are gonna be so difficult about it? :angry: I really don't want to sentence my remaining males to certain death! LOL. Plus, I did witness the male Carolina make a connection before Gypsy decided to eat his head off!
9/17/16 Update: As far as the ghosts are concerned, I had good news come on Sunday morning and this morning, and 2 of my ghosts ooths hatched!Each ooth was laid by a different female, so at least two of my girls are fertile. Interestingly, both ooths hatched in exactly 37 days, and were incubated between 75 and 77 degrees F.
There is still one other ghost girl I have that has laid 4 or 5 ooths already, and my last and youngest ghost girl finally laid her first ooth yesterday (it was a pretty big one too!) I was so happy to see her finally laying, as I was starting to worry that she was egg bound. But now that she has started laying, it means I potentially have 4 mated ghost girls laying!
geez......looks like I have a lot of ghost nymphs in my future!
Thanks Ashlee! Like I said above, maybe remating is not necessary after all, with all the potentially fertile ooths I already have!
Nice to hear your Ghosts ooths are hatching, enjoy the little ones.
