Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright heres the question, which way do you hang you oothecas?? I've included a diagram to help illustrate what I'm talking about. I've always suspended mine like "A" on the diagram, but lately I've been hearing alot of mixed opinions on which way is better, or suposed to be done. What do you guys say?? A or B??

The pic isn't working... maybe this will do it..

I hang them whatever way they were laid. In the case of lets say a chinese mantis it is easy to tell which way it goes.

Hello,
Well, i've used A before but never B. See its easier since the manis come out from the top front so if you hang it like A, its easier for them to slither down then brake through but if you have it like side B, then its harder beause they will have to go upwards. Somerimes with exotic species i put the ooteca in neither A or B. I put the exotic oothecae flat on a surface, pin it then flip it over, this will allow nymphs even from the back of the ootheca to get out as some dont want to slither to he front and brake through the oothecae themselves from the back.

Thanks
Eros JN

I just hang them from the lid. Takes out the guesswork.
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Mantis Kingdom

hey,
any way works really, horizontily, virticaly, upsidown, (under lid) right side up. they will hatch any way you place the ootheca. just make sure that if you have it laying on the floor of the aquarium, it is pinned to prevent any moving. (ooth may squish mantids)
thanks much,
Craig Condon
Exo Inverts

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save a cow, eat a vegetarian

Oops, posted in wrong place... here we go...

Very true, they will hatch no matter how you place it, however, I would not recommend placing it anywhere on the ground or close to the ground. The mantids need to be hanging. If they hatch on the ground, many of them (this also depends on species, as some are supposed to hatch on, or under the ground) will get deformed or end up getting stuck to the bottom of the container. As my friend Sheldon would put it... "momma knows best". If the female laid it on the lid (or that species generally lays ooths higher off the ground), then stick that sucker on the lid, etc.

In other words, placement of the ooth does not matter when it comes to hatching. Its basically the safety of the nymphs you need to be concerned about. Just make sure they have enough room.

On another note, I had a B. mendica ootheca hatch in the mail once. I have NO idea how in the world they were able to pull that off in the tight space they had. There was no room at all, yet a few of them still made it, even munched on a couple siblings on the way. Crazy...
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Mantis Kingdom