Adult Dhh enclosure

J

JCK206

Pupa
Totally jumping the gun but just wondering what you all thought about using my old Chameleon cage as an enclosure for adult Dynastes Hercules Hercules. 2 sides are glass and 2 sides are screen. I would have to line the screen sides with plastic to prevent substrate from spilling out, but it has a misting system and lights and could be set up just like a rainforest with plants, branches and such. Just wondering what you all thought. Let me know.

Thanks,

Jeff https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/hjJWNR78TRipBcdl4bhqVFbHq0674PPLczy8HAX3qSg?feat=embedwebsite



 
Not something I would personally use unless I was only looking to have a display and not breed the beetles. The adults have very strong sharp claws and I would be a little concerned about them getting their claws caught in the mesh and damaging themselves.

Once mature, the female beetles are going to spend most of their time underground, coming up only to eat a sizeable lump of banana before they go back down underground again. With a big beetle like Dynastes hercules you need a deep layer of substrate to encourage the females to lay eggs. The bottom layer needs to be at least 10-15 cm of very compressed substrate, topped by another 20 cm or more of lightly compacted substrate - not sure if you have enough depth there before the mesh sides. Lighting is not a problem as the adults are mostly night active. I would worry the spray sysyem would add too much water to the substrate and make the bottom layers to wet so the eggs would rot.

If I was doing a diplay for a show - nice setup. If I was going to try to breed them, I'd keep them in a couple of deep plastic tubs, one full of substrate and the other one turned upside down and used as a lid. Add a few bits of wood on the surface to give them something to cling and a flat bit of wood as a feeding station - that would be it.

 
i thought about this too but what Matt said is correct
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The Dynastes would simply tear a hole through the screen and leave. That beetle is much stronger than you imagine. However, if it didn't it would die shortly since rhinoceros beetles do not like a lot of ventilation.

 
I agree with this not working but I don't know about the ventilation thing... I had 3 females live many months in a container with a metal mesh lid... it just requires more misting to maintain. A LOT MORE! So... having less ventilation is usually better...

 
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Ryan Minard said:
I agree with this not working but I don't know about the ventilation thing... I had 3 females live many months in a container with a metal mesh lid... it just requires more misting to maintain. A LOT MORE! So... having less ventilation is usually better...
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Hey, Thanks everyone for your imput! Much appreciated. I am totally new to this so hopefully no question or suggestion I may come up with is a stupid one! lol! That's why this forum is here.....to help idiots like me!! lol

 
one of my granti male broke open a delicup!!! i found crawling on my dads leg while he was taking a nap
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JCK206 said:
Hey, Thanks everyone for your imput! Much appreciated. I am totally new to this so hopefully no question or suggestion I may come up with is a stupid one! lol! That's why this forum is here.....to help idiots like me!! lol
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You should see some of my early posts
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JCK206: Did you get your beetles yet?

The problem with excessive ventilation is they can dry up easily, fresh air doesn't bother them a bit.

 
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Orin,

I have the Dhh larva only. They are probably between L2 and L3 now. I need to transplant them into larger containers soon but finding substrate here is next to impossible. I will most likely have to order it from Taiwan :-(

 
Ok, so what if I replaced the screen with plexiglass, with small ventilation holes in it? I could fill it pretty deep with substrate and. Do a kind of jungle thing with brances and plants? Thoughts?

 
JCK206 said:
Ok, so what if I replaced the screen with plexiglass, with small ventilation holes in it? I could fill it pretty deep with substrate and. Do a kind of jungle thing with brances and plants? Thoughts?
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If you have the space it might make a nice display. Most of my larger species just get a big tub with a deep layer of substrate filled up so there is just enough room at the top for the adults to move around, mate and feed. I always put bark or branches on the surface for the adults to grip but thats about it and top it off with the unaltered lid of the tub - the small gaps around the edge provide enough for air exchange.

This is the setup I used recently for a group of Chalcosoma caucasus, I'd use the samesort of thing for a similar number of Dynastes (if I had any,,,)

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No, but if there is only loose substrate on the surface of the tank they have problems righting themselves if they end up on their back. in extreme cases they can not get up and exhaust themselves or die trying, which is not what you want. I always place wood or bark on the surface so the beetles have something firmer to cling to and can right themselves easily. I also helps to reduce evaporation from the substrate.

 
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