Kevinswither
Pupa
I ordered 7.5 liters of beetle substrate from Taiwan. The larvae are l3 and they have enough food to last until pupae. I had them shipped by boat and will they last until the supplies get there?
Beetle substrate
- Thread starter Kevinswither
- Start date
Kevinswither
Pupa
Will I also be able to brew enough oak substrate (5 gallons) for a nice amount of larvae
not sure what you mean.
depending on how many larvae you have (or big/small species)7.5 liters may or may not be enough. you will have to see for yourself.
Late L3 larvae also eat less then early L3, so that's a factor too.
I give my D.granti and D.tityus 0.5 gallon every month in early L3; 0.5 gallon every two months for late L3. and they are medium to small size rhino beetles.
I lightly press on the substrate when I put them into the container (don't press when you have larvae inside the container!!!) Not-pressed substrate is only about 50% of the Firmly pressed substrate too...
If possible, I would suggest to prepare extra substrate so you can add it in whenever you need to.
depending on how many larvae you have (or big/small species)7.5 liters may or may not be enough. you will have to see for yourself.
Late L3 larvae also eat less then early L3, so that's a factor too.
I give my D.granti and D.tityus 0.5 gallon every month in early L3; 0.5 gallon every two months for late L3. and they are medium to small size rhino beetles.
I lightly press on the substrate when I put them into the container (don't press when you have larvae inside the container!!!) Not-pressed substrate is only about 50% of the Firmly pressed substrate too...
If possible, I would suggest to prepare extra substrate so you can add it in whenever you need to.
Kevinswither
Pupa
I am wondering how much substrate can I get out of one traeger 20lb bag of oak pellets?
DynastinaeLucanidae
Pupa
I'm currently making my own flake soil with traeger oak pellets and a 20lb bag can easily give you more than 5 gal worth of substarte. It's just that the process is very time consuming
Kevinswither
Pupa
Any way I can speed up the process? Is the only things that are needed are wheat bran, oak pellets and yeast? And a bucket?
DynastinaeLucanidae
Pupa
You can increase the temperature to about 28 Celsius to shorten the time, I wouldn't go over 30 Celsius tho. You also need to add just enough water to allow the substrate to become moist but not saturated with water.
Fermentation takes time and patience, it's not something that can happen over night especially now that it's winter and the temperature is colder.
Fermentation takes time and patience, it's not something that can happen over night especially now that it's winter and the temperature is colder.
Takes forever. All of my substrate froze!
DynastinaeLucanidae
Pupa
Do you leave yours outside, Ratmosphere?
I have to, the smell is too intense!
DynastinaeLucanidae
Pupa
What does your fermented substrate smell like? Mine doesn't smell that bad, but then again, I just started making mine not too long ago.
MWAInverts
L3
If you made the mix correctly and have been keeping up with the mixing, it'll smell like slightly fermented wine/sweetish/vinegar. It should not smell to the point it makes you want to vomit (depending on how strong your stomach is). That means it's got dead pockets that have become anaerobic and rotting the wrong way.
DynastinaeLucanidae
Pupa
Mine smells exactly like that! Sweet wine with a hint of vinegar aroma. I mix my substrate every two to three days instead of everyday, will that make a difference?
MWAInverts
L3
It really depends. It's not an exact science but I like to mix daily just to distribute the heat and mixing in some air. In this way mine completes in under 2 months out in the garage.