Pseudocreobotra ocellata
SPINY FLOWER MANTIS
  
Special notes: This species is hardy and easy to care for, however, they are very vulnerable to fungal infections and in almost all cases these infections are fatal to this species. Make sure to keep your cages for this species extra ventilated to ensure this doesn't happen. I usually do not keep their enclosures humid. The male of this species is timid and usually doesn't eat very much or hunt that well. However, my male became a lot more aggressive and willing to hunt after I mated him. It seems like the more you mate this species, the happier they are.
2.10.08 Forgot to update - again. All adults are dead, and the first generation of P. ocellata are growing up! I sold a bunch a while back too.
For now, this species is at the bottom of my list. I am not paying much attention to them, and so they are aging very slowly and molting seldomly. I am most likely going to drop this species soon.
12.4.07 Male shows signs of extreme aging.
11.26.07 Female two laid her second fertile ooth, like female one, I put her amidst a whole bunch of houseflies so she can hunt to her leisure. This ooth I am keeping (for now, at least).
11.25.07 Last night female one laid her third ooth, again I caught her, but this time while she began. Female two still hasn't laid her second ooth, I expect her to do so any day. Currently, female one is in a container full of houseflies to get her belly bloated once more. This ooth that she laid is being sent to a forum member, as he had early dibs. I am probably going to send off more ooths as well, keeping only one ooth from female one and one from female two.
11.14.07 Last night female one laid her second fertile ootheca. I caught her finishing it. This morning I woke up to find female two had laid her first fertile ootheca also.
11.10.07
The results from the night before. ;) Also mated the second female!
11.09.07 As I was updating the site, I glanced over to check on the couple and they are mating! It took the entire day (9:00 am - 7:20 pm) but he started.
Update: He separated from the female at about 11:00 pm. Now I have two gravid females!
11.09.07 I have two females and one male of this species; I purchased them from Yen Saw. I already mated one of the females with the male. It took him 8 hours after mounting to start mating. The mated female laid an ooth for me the next day and is probably going to lay another one any day now. I'm stuffing her with crickets to keep her healthy. This morning I tried mating the male with the other female. I didn't get to mate her with him before I left for the trip and during that time she laid an infertile ooth. The male mounted and began trying to mate immediately, but couldn't find the female's. She is not being receptive. -sigh- He keeps trying though. She also seems to be bugged by the male's position, as she is twitching and trying to get his legs off of her abdomen as his feet are on the sides of her. Hopefully she will open up to him soon. Right now they are let loose on an artificial plant next to my computer so I can keep an eye on them and watch for any cannibalism. All of them are currently taking 1/2 - 3/4 inch crickets and the occasional skipper or moth.
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