After loosing about 20 newly hatched nymphs to water drops in one of my incubation containers, that I had misted the day before, I went on a search to find a safer way to water them. Also with the remaining nymphs in their own individual cups I had to find a way to water them without worrying about them becoming stuck/damaged/drowning in the water drops that form after misting too.
I tried putting simple paper towel, coconut fiber, etc for substrate in the bottom to soak-up any water to avoid drops, but there were always some drops that formed on the container sides or bottom until it evaporated.
After some tests I found a method that will soak the substrate giving the nymphs drinking water and providing humidity - all without a single droplet of water anywhere in the container. It is done by a form of capillary action, where the water is drawn/wicked up from a water source into the substrate. A old concept to be sure, but applied to a new use.
I also have another method to water with, but I will make another thread/topic later when I test it more.
The process is simple you need lots of tiny holes in the container you want to water, a small portion of cup to hold the water, and a substrate that will hold the water (I use Plantation soil, but any coconut husk material should do).
Besides watering your baby mantises in their nymph cups, this can be applied to incubation containers, habitats for larger mantises, even adult mantis homes. See the below photos, and notice in the last one the nymph cup is watered and doesn't have a single water droplet.
Once the substrate has been soaked with water it will hold the water and should not leak (mine don't). The bottom of the cup will be wet still though at first from excess water it was soaking in (from the areas that are not holes where the water just sat on the container).
Depending on how wet you get the substrate, and the humidity of the room, the substrate should be wet enough to last a few days before having to water again.
2. I take another empty cup and cut it down to just a small bowl about 1/4" tall (depending on the cup size) - this will hold the water.
3.Next I put the nymph cup (with coconut substrate) in the water cup slowly and let it soak.
4. The longer the nymph cup sits in the water, the more it will absorb - it will take a few minutes. Depending on how dry the substrate is the water cup may need to be refilled with water.
I tried putting simple paper towel, coconut fiber, etc for substrate in the bottom to soak-up any water to avoid drops, but there were always some drops that formed on the container sides or bottom until it evaporated.
After some tests I found a method that will soak the substrate giving the nymphs drinking water and providing humidity - all without a single droplet of water anywhere in the container. It is done by a form of capillary action, where the water is drawn/wicked up from a water source into the substrate. A old concept to be sure, but applied to a new use.
I also have another method to water with, but I will make another thread/topic later when I test it more.
The process is simple you need lots of tiny holes in the container you want to water, a small portion of cup to hold the water, and a substrate that will hold the water (I use Plantation soil, but any coconut husk material should do).
Besides watering your baby mantises in their nymph cups, this can be applied to incubation containers, habitats for larger mantises, even adult mantis homes. See the below photos, and notice in the last one the nymph cup is watered and doesn't have a single water droplet.
Once the substrate has been soaked with water it will hold the water and should not leak (mine don't). The bottom of the cup will be wet still though at first from excess water it was soaking in (from the areas that are not holes where the water just sat on the container).
Depending on how wet you get the substrate, and the humidity of the room, the substrate should be wet enough to last a few days before having to water again.
- Using a sewing needle I poke lots of tiny holes into the bottom of the nymph cups, and a ring or two around the very bottom/base side too.
- I take another empty cup and cut it down to just a small bowl about 1/4" tall (depending on the cup size) - this will hold the water.
- Next I put the nymph cup (with coconut substrate) in the water cup slowly and let it soak.
- The longer the nymph cup sits in the water, the more it will absorb - it will take a few minutes. Depending on how dry the substrate is the water cup may need to be refilled with water.
2. I take another empty cup and cut it down to just a small bowl about 1/4" tall (depending on the cup size) - this will hold the water.
3.Next I put the nymph cup (with coconut substrate) in the water cup slowly and let it soak.
4. The longer the nymph cup sits in the water, the more it will absorb - it will take a few minutes. Depending on how dry the substrate is the water cup may need to be refilled with water.
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