Exatosoma Tiaratum just mated!!! my son is asking all sorts of questions :P

[kirstyg]

Hi all....

Very exciting times here :D

Tickles (Male) molted to adulthood 2 weeks ago. Lovely set of wings!! Spikey (female) molted on friday just gone. My son Adam was very concerned to see Tickles poking his tail at Spikey's new egg chamber... hmmm how do we explain that one...
anyway, after a session of Bug Reproduction 101 Adam is anxious for Spike and Tickles to get busy making healthy eggs!!

As we've not had eggs before there are questions Adam was asking that I don't know the answers to. If it's no trouble, Adam would like to know:

How long does it usually take from reaching adulthood/mating to producing eggs?

How many eggs will Spikey lay?

Their tank is currently lined with a sheet of newspaper...Makes the tank easy to clean! Do we need to change the lining for the eggs to survive?

What is the best way to incubate the eggs?

How long does it take for new little hatchlings to pop out?

Thanks so much for any advice and hints you may have

Kirsty (Adam's mum)

[Mikeg]

I use paper towels because it holds water better, as the substrate. I then remove the eggs from the poop (when I clean the cage out, and I just pick the eggs out and replace the paper towels) and put them in moistened coir and that closed container goes on top of the flourescent vent part for the added heat wait 5-6 months (for parthogenic eggs, yours should be about a month or two quicker) and pop come the babies! Hope that helps =) I usually see my females (I have no males at all, so can't help with that) laying eggs about a month and a half after her last molt, she should lay close to about 150 eggs or more (that's how many mine produced last year)

[Kastytis]

Hello Kirsty, these are the answers to Adam's questions :
1) It usually doesn't take long - about 2 weeks
2) I don't know how many eggs will be laid , but if the male and the female keep mating , the female won't stop laying eggs. There will be a lot of them :)
3) I recommend taking out the eggs and putting them in a separate container. Then slightly mist them every 3-4 days with a sprayer.
4) The best way to incubate the eggs is to keep them at a 20-25 C temperature ( room temperature) in a well-ventilated container. Note: the temperature must be below 25C or the eggs are unlikely to hatch.
5) It usually takes about 4-5 months for the eggs to hatch.
And when the hatchlings hatch, I suggest putting them in a smaller container than the adults , because they will not be able to find food.

Hope this information helps :)

Kastytis.