Sticks for sticks, could this be it?

[agent A]

Hello all, I've been having trouble breeding my popa pair who have been adults for a month

8 days ago the male mounted but couldn't connect

Last weekend I put the male a mile from the female and yesterday both went in a net cage and have been there since

No mating yet, I added 2 flies and neither seemed hungry

Then I thought back to yens advice on making the male secure

I added dead twigs and the male caught a fly and ate it

Is the male nervous because he was in a bare bones setup? Have I finally got this under control? I really want to continue keeping these guys

Thanx

 

[ShieldMantid1997]

When i ate i generally put the female in the male's cage, i believe this makes him more confident. It could just be the fact that my mantids were wiling to mate, or it could be a technique. Good luck with the two!

 

[agent A]

I did put the male in first

He doesn't go after her and she either is still or too fast for him

 

[meaganelise9]

I think that's a good observation. In the wild, the male has all the room in the world to escape should she try to eat him. Provide lots of places for him to hide and escape to so he feels safe should anything go awry.

 

[agent A]

I'm wondering if it's just the male... Still no mating and I don't want the female to lay an infertile ooth

Anyone got an extra male with a normal abdomen? Maybe he couldn't connect because he still holds his abdomen like he's a nymph