Rest in Peace Reagan

Went to feed the mantis this evening and found Reagan dead on the bottom of her enclosure. Not sure what happened to her, she seemed fine, only gave me the one ootheca and then died. The only one I have left now is Kennedy and she's unmated, really hoping I get lucky enough to find a male.

Picture update

Some pics I took today of Reagan and Kennedy and also of Reagan's first ootheca.

Update

Yesterday, my last male, Madison died. He never would mate with Kennedy (or Reagan for that matter) for what ever reason so Kennedy remains unmated. Reagan laid her very first ooth this evening having mated for the first time Sept 19 with Nixon.  Nixon mated with her 3 times before he was eaten. I will get pics of the ooth tomorrow, I am waiting for it to  harden before messing with it.

Oh no Nixon lost his head! Reagan's getting fat.

I mated Reagan and Nixon one last time on 9/24/2014 and she ate his head! 3rd time was the charm I guess and she is FINALLY starting to get fat. I attempted to mate Kennedy and Madison today but he  tried and tried for about 30 mins and she was just not having it. She wasn't violent nor did she try to get him off her back, but lets just say she wasn't receptive either. So I took him out and we will try again later today or maybe tomorrow. Here are some pics of Reagan and her growing tummy that I took today.

Mating update

I went ahead and mated Nixon and Reagan again last night. 6 hours. He still has his head as she ate well before and during mating. I put him back in his habitat and will see if she starts getting fat and ready to lay an ooth soon. Kennedy and Madison should be ready this next weekend, and if Reagan isn't showing signs of being fat by then I'll mate her again as well. Reagan looks maybe a little fatter but its hard to tell if she is getting full of eggs yet. I'll get some pics as soon as I can, have a busy day today and tomorrow.

So Nixon and Reagan mated for 5 and a half hours last night and when he was done I took him and put him back in his habitat. She had eaten right before and during mating so I think that saved him his head. I am currently mating them again, as I am not sure if the first one was successful or not and I figured twice can't hurt. Will update when there is more to share about this mating.

Mating day for one of our pairs

Reagan (female) is mating with Nixon(male) As I write they have been at it just about 4 and a half hours. I am going to try to feed her in a bit and also keep an eye on them and try to get him out before she eats him, that way I can mate them again later. A second mating isn't required but I like to for good measure. Until last year I never had a boy get eaten so crossing my fingers I can save Nixon for at least one more shot at this.

When I put him with her, she had just eaten. He went right up to her face and she attacked him. I had to shake their container to keep her from killing him before he had a chance to mate. I finally got him behind her and it took a few seconds and he was up on the stick and then hooked on her.

Will update tomorrow on their progress and will be updating as she begins to lay ooths so keep an eye on the blog the next few days or so.