Is this ootheca fertile?

There is no simple way of telling if an ootheca is fertile, or not. On average, oothecae take around 2-4 weeks to hatch. If you are concerned that your ootheca is not fertile, and 4 or more weeks have passed, then first, search around to see other peoples experience with the species you are rearing. Sometimes, it may take longer than you expected.

If you have done this, then the best way, is to see if there are any living eggs in the ootheca. To do this, you must slice the very top of the ootheca. Do not slice it off completely! If a liquid ooze comes out, then this is a sign of fertility. However, if the inside is dry, hard, or sometimes just black, then the ootheca will more than likely be infertile.

In the circumstance of a fertile ootheca, just press the top of the ootheca that was sliced, back down, to prevent the other eggs from drying out.