Gymnetis thula Adult Lifespan

PowerHobo

PowerHobo

Chalcosoma
My copy of Orin's Ultimate Guide is currently out on loan, so I can't look it up: what's the average adult lifespan for Gymnetis thula? All 7 of mine are out and about now, but I have yet to see any mating behaviors (they all seem more interested in trying to find ways out of the enclosure), so was just curious how long they've got to do the deed if I'm to get any successful culture out of them.

 
I've had thula adults live for at least 8 months, and they can remain fertile for quite a long time.  In the 15 or so years that I've been keeping this species, I don't think I've ever actually seen a single mating!  Obviously though, it must happen, as you just keep the beetles together on a suitable breeding substrate, and after a while (usually less than a month) you'll suddenly start to see tiny larvae appearing.  Several weeks after that, there can be hundreds!  If your substrate is of good nutritional quality, they'll grow quite fast.  The larvae also like apple slices, though they might not take much interest in it until they get into the late L2 stage.

 
Suitable breeding substrate would be the same as rearing sub, I assume, yes? Basically edible compost, decaying leaves, and fermented oak?

 
Goliathus said:
... Several weeks after that, there can be hundreds!  
Click to expand...
Way to hit the nail on the head ? I hadn't bothered to check for any larvae or eggs since posting this thread (so just less than a month), and decided just to check. I've got 8 adults (I thought it was 7), in a 3-gallon tank that's only filled about 1/3 of the way, so maybe a gallon of sub... 143 larvae and somewhere around 50 eggs. I stopped counting the eggs around there, and I'm sure there were fresh hatchlings I missed.

 
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