ladygigi
Well-known member
I had quite a day yesterday, which is why I never made it here! It started with my being quite saddened by the loss of 7 mantids. 
I had 15 of them day before yesterday, then when I did yesterdays count I had only 8. I counted and recounted and knew I had been the victim of their trait of cannibalism. I was so upset with myself for not getting the cups made earlier so that I could separate them sooner. :mellow: I get angry with myself sometimes at being disabled and only being able to do so much in a day. :angry: I always try to do as much as I can tho, cuz I believe in the get 'er done program. LOL :lol: I'm not one to be idol and sit around doing nothing or complaining. That doesn't get one anywhere. Thus I persevere, yet I couldn't help but be upset that the cups weren't done in time to get them separated before this little tragedy happened. Anyway, I had 5 cups made and separated out 5 of them. I then sat down to make 4 more cups, counting only 3 more 2nd Instars. I figured an extra cup wouldn't hurt. Well, when I finished the cups and went to separate the last 3, I looked up at the top of my terrarium and there were 2 of my 2nd Instars and two 1st Instars! :blink: I have no idea where the 1st Instars came from. I have 2 theories. One is they are late hatchings from my ooth. The other is that the 2nd ooth that is in there is actually a fertile ooth and is beginning to hatch! If the second is the case, Oh My, and I will know soon! Then it got really scary, as I went to put one of my mantises in one of the cups, one of the 2nd Instars literally ATTACKED and GRABBED one of the 1st Instars thinking it was going to have itself a little snack! I literally had to fight with it rather vigorously to get it to let it go! :2guns:It dropped into the cup fortunately and with lots of luck is UNHARMED! I immediately used my last cup and removed the second 1st Instar as I was watching my other 2nd Instar eyeball him and watch its every move. I knew any moment it was going to be a meal as well. So, my sadness at losing 7 of my mantids, was replaced with the find of 2 new 1st Instars. ^_^ It will be interesting to see just what lies ahead! I know that I will be busy today getting more cups made in the event of more little ones to come!
I had 15 of them day before yesterday, then when I did yesterdays count I had only 8. I counted and recounted and knew I had been the victim of their trait of cannibalism. I was so upset with myself for not getting the cups made earlier so that I could separate them sooner. :mellow: I get angry with myself sometimes at being disabled and only being able to do so much in a day. :angry: I always try to do as much as I can tho, cuz I believe in the get 'er done program. LOL :lol: I'm not one to be idol and sit around doing nothing or complaining. That doesn't get one anywhere. Thus I persevere, yet I couldn't help but be upset that the cups weren't done in time to get them separated before this little tragedy happened. Anyway, I had 5 cups made and separated out 5 of them. I then sat down to make 4 more cups, counting only 3 more 2nd Instars. I figured an extra cup wouldn't hurt. Well, when I finished the cups and went to separate the last 3, I looked up at the top of my terrarium and there were 2 of my 2nd Instars and two 1st Instars! :blink: I have no idea where the 1st Instars came from. I have 2 theories. One is they are late hatchings from my ooth. The other is that the 2nd ooth that is in there is actually a fertile ooth and is beginning to hatch! If the second is the case, Oh My, and I will know soon! Then it got really scary, as I went to put one of my mantises in one of the cups, one of the 2nd Instars literally ATTACKED and GRABBED one of the 1st Instars thinking it was going to have itself a little snack! I literally had to fight with it rather vigorously to get it to let it go! :2guns:It dropped into the cup fortunately and with lots of luck is UNHARMED! I immediately used my last cup and removed the second 1st Instar as I was watching my other 2nd Instar eyeball him and watch its every move. I knew any moment it was going to be a meal as well. So, my sadness at losing 7 of my mantids, was replaced with the find of 2 new 1st Instars. ^_^ It will be interesting to see just what lies ahead! I know that I will be busy today getting more cups made in the event of more little ones to come! 
