Diabolical Ironclad beetles, farming mold?

jreidsma

jreidsma

Eudicella
Hi everyone
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I have rehoused my diabolical ironclads countless times now, all for the same reason...

mold takes over their containers...

The only time that mold does not appear is when I have them in a container with no substrate at all. But every time I put them in a container with substrate, mold quickly develops the next day and I have to rehouse them again.

I have tried having way too many air holes, and mold still came. I tried keeping them dry, mold still came. I tried feeding them different stuff, mold still came.

This last time (today) the mold had covered the whole container overnight, and the mold covered about half of the beetles and killed them. So I took the remaining five beetles (started with nine...) and put them in a new container with sand as the substrate to see if that works.

So, anyone know why the mold is coming so quickly? I have tried almost everything I can think of and it still comes. But the mold never gets in any other containers with any of my animals. It only grows with the diabolical ironclads. Could they be farming the mold? But if they were why would they get killed by that same mold...

 
I don't know, it was at least an inch tall in spots and was like hair. Like what gets in plant soil or on left over food when it is left out too long.

None of my other animals are getting it, so I think the mold is spreading by the diabolical beetles themselves. So I am going to see if it will stay gone if the substrate is sand.

I am also getting some help on arachnoboards on this subject. We are trying to figure something out.

I have never had this problem before either, its puzzling.

 
but maybe you can take out the beetles, wash the container or get a new container.

put sand and cocofiber as your substrate. Put a flat rock that covers half of the container, and if you can, try to put some leaves/plants. try to feed them dried oatmeal for now..and see what happens..

 
I have tried sand and coconut coir/fiber, and I tried giving them rocks and everything. Along with feeding them oats, but it all still molded. I didn't try covering the whole substrate in a large rock though, if I find one I will try it.

I will wash out their container later, and mix up some new soil for them, of sand and coconut coir/fiber (mostly sand so it stays a bit dry) and then move the beetles into it with only oats and dry food in there. To see if maybe it is the beetles and fruit that cause it.

 
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i don't know if this is right but.. my parents said it's dry in California and humid in the east, so they cannot balance the temps and the changes. That's what i heard from my parents. So try to keep it dry as possible. It doesnt need to be humid, they get humid from carrots or bananas. Spray water once a week, then there should be no problem.

 
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Inle said:
How are they doing?
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So far they are doing great!
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No mold yet, and the all seem to be happy. They are rather clumsy like always though
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lol
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All four of them are in one of the corners sitting on top of each other. Its a little diabolical tower! lol

 
Its alright. They may have just been old or something.

These four are doing good though
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And four is plenty for me
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They are still doing well
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I may give them some cat food and more dry foods to go along with the oats. I just had oats in there in case the mold came back. But I think it is gone for good now
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