CO129197 Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 I was given a Ghost Mantis Egg case a while back and Im kinda losing hope in it that it will hatch. I don't know when it was laid, but I've been misting it every other day or so, and nothing... Anyone help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mongoslade2110 Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 hi try mantis forum there i s lots of people that are experts on that kinda stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddy roach Posted November 27, 2011 Share Posted November 27, 2011 hey do you know anything of its background (such as was it off a breeder or wild collected) as even females that haven't been bred lay ooths but are infertile if it is fertile it should take 5-6 weeks to hatch(but i have heard of upto 9 weeks in some cases)...you seem to be keeping humidity up well by spray it and me personally keep mine at 82-84f other than that have few cultures of fruit flies ready as they do pack it away as nymphs haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CO129197 Posted November 27, 2011 Author Share Posted November 27, 2011 It never hatched...Turned out to be bad unfortunately. I got a load of babies from a breeder here in Colorado...What's the trick to feeding them flies?? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddy roach Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 i culture flightless fruit flies(really easy to do and in time youll have ready supply if decide to expand your collection) so just tap them into each mantis tub(well nymphs) i find it easier to culture fruitflies than crickets, for larger mantids i feed bluebottle,green bottle and houseflies along with feeding them turkistan roaches etc (variety of foods always works well ive found) ghosts are amazing mantids,best of luck with your mantids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CO129197 Posted November 28, 2011 Author Share Posted November 28, 2011 Ended up using a funnel to get them into the container with the babies....We will see how it goes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likebugs Posted November 28, 2011 Share Posted November 28, 2011 When I only need a few flies: I usually have a hole cut into the top or side of the mantid's enclosures that I plug up with a sponge or cottonball. Also, the same size hole in the ff container. I use a vial that fits into the holes for transferring a small amount of flies. I wrap a rubberband or small hair tie around the vial to form a seal against the ff container when it is put in. Depending on the enclosure, and mantids' willingness to stay put, I can sometimes just open the containers and tap flies in if the mantids are in a large container and need alot of flies. Funnels work good too, but I haven't had the need for them. No matter which way it is done, constant tapping on the ff container usually keeps the little flies falling down, so hoards of them won't be coming up and out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CO129197 Posted December 11, 2011 Author Share Posted December 11, 2011 Is it even possible to sex the nymphs? I've been looking around for information on them for a while and haven't found much... Nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Not sure if it is the same for the Gongylus I dealt with as these...but I think sexing can be done by counting the number of segments their abdomen has for quite a few species. As for male/female having more...I dont remember, lol. Try checking over here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Clausen Posted December 13, 2011 Share Posted December 13, 2011 Ghost males have eight segments and females have six. These are viewed from the underside of the abdomen, beginning just past the point where the hind pair of legs attach to the thorax. It is easier to distinguish nymphs of this species by looking for the longer, twistier "horn" on the males' heads. Females, young and old, have a shorter, stouter horn. Lots of dud oothecae in this species, in my experience, even when fertilization seems guaranteed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CO129197 Posted December 13, 2011 Author Share Posted December 13, 2011 So I've noticed with the ooths! Kinda bums me out too...I was given a sub adult, probably L3 or 4, and a TON of nymphs that are just starting to molt...I can't keep fruit flies around long enough for them either! They are a bunch of little pigs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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