Diabolical set up

[Amici Con Coleotteri]

Since there's not too much info on diabolical ironclads, I had originally thrown 7 I had gotten in my desert set up. They were doing pretty good, but I keep seeing a lot of you saying they want a little humidity. So last night I set up a smaller enclosure with some slightly moist coconut fiber, a small patch of moss, a piece of cork bark, and some bits of rotted hardwood.

Does anybody think I shouldn't have done this?

They gave me a scare when I checked them last night after work and nobody would move...silly me falling for their death feigning trickery!

 

[Hisserdude]

Sounds like a good setup to me!

 

[Trailblazr80]

Since there's not too much info on diabolical ironclads, I had originally thrown 7 I had gotten in my desert set up. They were doing pretty good, but I keep seeing a lot of you saying they want a little humidity. So last night I set up a smaller enclosure with some slightly moist coconut fiber, a small patch of moss, a piece of cork bark, and some bits of rotted hardwood.

Does anybody think I shouldn't have done this?

They gave me a scare when I checked them last night after work and nobody would move...silly me falling for their death feigning trickery!

Are you keeping all of the substrate moist? I would only keep a few corners with moss moist. What kind of hardwood are you using?

 

[Amici Con Coleotteri]

Are you keeping all of the substrate moist? I would only keep a few corners with moss moist. What kind of hardwood are you using?

The substrate is only moist because it was one of those bricks you have to soak. It's pretty dry considering, but in my experience, with proper ventilation it dries quick. I put the moss in, at most, a quarter of the enclosure, and that will be what I moisten (seems to be what you do, and sounded good to me lol). I'm not sure what the hardwood is exactly...it was ordered from bugsincyberspace, the hardwood blend. Is there any concerns with certain woods?

 

[Trailblazr80]

The substrate is only moist because it was one of those bricks you have to soak. It's pretty dry considering, but in my experience, with proper ventilation it dries quick. I put the moss in, at most, a quarter of the enclosure, and that will be what I moisten (seems to be what you do, and sounded good to me lol). I'm not sure what the hardwood is exactly...it was ordered from bugsincyberspace, the hardwood blend. Is there any concerns with certain woods?

The wood mix should be fine. If you have any oak (their favorite) trees around, you can collect fallen bark and keep it in their tank. I keep a couple of pieces moist to allow fungal/mold growth for them to eat.

Something interesting that I've noticed is that these fungus eaters also eat moss. My bess beetles eat moss, not sure if the diabolicals have been.

 

[Amici Con Coleotteri]

The wood mix should be fine. If you have any oak (their favorite) trees around, you can collect fallen bark and keep it in their tank. I keep a couple of pieces moist to allow fungal/mold growth for them to eat.

Something interesting that I've noticed is that these fungus eaters also eat moss. My bess beetles eat moss, not sure if the diabolicals have been.

Very interesting and good info. Thanks!

Does same go for the woolies?

 

[Argus]

For my Ironclad, set up:

I make a blend of ground peat (.25), torn lichen (.25) and ground shelf fungus (.5) into a 1" substrate. I make sure to add some moisture to the substrate / effective microorganisms and then, top the surface with chunks of bark fungs and conk.

Kind regards,

Argus

 

[Oak]

thats a pretty cool set up, thanks for sharing

 

[Amici Con Coleotteri]

Wow Argus! Thanks for the info and the really cool pic... I'm definitely gonna try this for the diabolicals, but I know for a fact my Megalodacne heros will love it!

Is there any kind of sterilization involved in the process?

 

[Argus]

Hi, Oak! The beetles are wonderful specimens. Thank you

Hi, Amici Con Coleotteri! I did not pasteurize the substrate. It is as nature provided; although, I was particular to select fungus that appeared unmolested before adding it to the substrate. Thank you for the positive review of my setup. The beetles seem to really enjoy it.

Take care,

Argus

 

[Amici Con Coleotteri]

Awesome! Thanks again! Can't wait to set up a few new enclosures.