Signs for Ootheca Laying

[d17oug18]

Hey peepz, is there a way to tell if a female is going to lay? didnt see anything on Laying only signs for breeding, thanks.

 

[Rick]

Yes but just like other signs it can be very subtle and if you're new to this hobby you may not pick up on it. Restlessness and the tip of the abdomen bending down to a surface and feeling around is another. Usually she will be very fat too.

 

[PhilinYuma]

Yes but just like other signs it can be very subtle and if you're new to this hobby you may not pick up on it. Restlessness and the tip of the abdomen bending down to a surface and feeling around is another. Usually she will be very fat too.

I see a lot of questions like this, "How many ooths will my female lay,?" "How can I tell when it's going to molt?" "When will I know if it's ready for larger food?" "How can I be sure that I have a male? "Will its twisted legs be O.K. after the next molt?" and so on. I am often not very good at predicting these things for the reaon that Rick gives, lack of experience, and some just can't be predicted accurately, but I have found out that the mantids always give me an accurate answer sooner or later!

 

[hibiscusmile]

The girls will also not eat right before oothing, she will strike at the food just like before a molt.

 

[d17oug18]

well here are some pics of not only my home made enclosure from scratch wood, but my seperated female in which i brought up the question in the first place, just wondering if you can pick up on the pics if you guys think shes going to lay, and also, if you can tell me when! lol shes looked like this for about 4-5 days, here are the pics:

 

[Rick]

She looks ready but there is no way for us to tell you exactly when. Don't worry about it, she will lay when it is time.

 

[jameslongo]

I started documenting when my females lay ooths. They lay an ooth every 3 weeks like clockwork. Give it a try

 

[OGIGA]

I think it's too hard to tell. Even if their abdomen is moving like they're trying to lay, another mantis who isn't doing that might lay first. The "signs" aren't consistent.

 

[massaman]

well my two creobroter females each laid two ooths in like 8 days of each other gambian laid like 4 ooths but were spread out first ooth to second were 3 days then the next day was the third and 4 days after that was the fourth and i am sure they may be infertile but will keep them for 6 weeks or a little longer to be sure