Diabolical ironclads flailing and can't walk right

[jreidsma]

Hi,

I just checked on my Diabolical ironclad beetles and have noticed that most of them cannot walk correctly? Their legs are kind of curled in almost like when they play dead or when something actually dies but they are trying to walk. Almost like they are kind of slow motion flailing around and they just end up on their backs.

That I have noticed, none of my other beetles are doing this, they seem fine.

My one Lucanus capreolus was moving kind of slow but it buried itself over night so I am guessing it is ok.

What could be going on? They have apples and I just gave them some oats to see what they do with that. (just gave them the oats a minute ago)

Any ideas? Maybe I was unlucky and ended up with older beetles?

 

[Peter Clausen]

Do they have a firm enough substrate to gain a foothold?

They are pretty slow-moving, silly walkers anyway. Have you seen the bulldog stance yet?

Our member "What" is probably the most experienced with this species.

 

[Oak]

that happens to me too, thanks to peter, i get to know the reason

 

[jreidsma]

The substrate is sand and coconut coir, the same I use for my Eleodes. When I first got these they walked fine.

I tried moving a couple of them over into oats as bedding just to see if they could walk better on that, but it was the same.

What is the "bulldog" stance?

A couple aren't doing very good, they can't walk any now. It seems like they can't control their legs good or something?

 

[Oak]

The substrate is sand and coconut coir, the same I use for my Eleodes. When I first got these they walked fine.

I tried moving a couple of them over into oats as bedding just to see if they could walk better on that, but it was the same.

What is the "bulldog" stance?

A couple aren't doing very good, they can't walk any now. It seems like they can't control their legs good or something?

try to add some large rocks or branches they can hang on to

 

[jreidsma]

Will do, I will give them more stuff to climb on