Dorcus Bucephalus Female Dying?

[RexaDynastes3516]

Hey all, I’ve recently purchased a pair of D. Bucephalus Stag beetles(about 2 or so months ago) and my female had been acting rather strange. Upon arriving, she wasn’t moving very much to begin with, and assumed she was either dying or dead. Fast forward a week, and she’s acting seemingly normal again, and very energetic on top of that. Now, however, it’s almost as if she is back to how she was 2 months ago! Very slow movements, leg tips(?) stiff and curled. Overall, she is acting as if she might completely freeze up and die. I had noticed her front legs curling a few days ago, although it didn’t seem to affect her movement much or bother her in the slightest. Some background on care, in case that might have something to do with her condition:

Coco husk substrate, sprayed nightly in order to retain moisture

Resin half log hide, initially real wood but I removed it when it started showing signs of rot

Diet of banana slices and homemade beetle jelly(seemed to prefer the fruit)

Daily replacements of food and feces removal.

If you guys have any clue as to what’s going on with her, please let me know! I’m really worried it’s a type of fungus or she’s just very stressed. Also, if there are any care tips for this beetle in particular, let me know as well!

 

[JKim]

First of all, female beetles are inactive compared to males, and Dorcus bucephalus is not an active species compared to some of those active (crazy) beetle species like in Prosopocoilus, Rhaetalus, etc. Also, in case of Dorcus titanus group (including sp. bucephalus), larger the beetle, less active they are. 

Dorcus bucephalus is known to live about an year to two in an average and little extra depending on a specimen. I don't know how old the specimen was when you first received, but since it has been a summer for a while (assuming you are in a northern hemisphere), your beetle may suffered great from the heat during the shipment. That is probably why the beetles were weak upon the arrival, but got back to her normal condition after couple day.

How curled are her legs? making a circle? or is it almost straight with little curves? The very last part of legs (farthest from body) is called tarsus (pl. tarsi), does not make move on its own (no moving nerve system in that part at all). Joints cannot be moved on its own. They are always curled position to some extent. Since I do not know how curled it is, I can't say much than how they are like. When I said they don't move, consider it as Captain Hook's hook. parts of tarsi are composed with many joints, and can be curled and straighten up, and all that, but those joints cannot move at will.

You said you remove feces daily, but feces of adult beetles are urine. To remove feces daily, you basically have to replace substrate everyday... I would say that's quite an effort!!  AND... That disturbs beetles to GREAT EXTENT!! IF you actually, and honestly, did that, then they are under a GREAT STRESS from that. Consider it as you are moving into new house every single day. You will have a hard time get used to things around. Beetle need some time to get used to their environment. They are more sensitive to surrounding than humans. They need some time to get used to the substrate, humidity, temperature, and all that. Unless the substrate is actually rotting from the urine, you don't have to replace it. I keep my adult beetles (not for reproduction) in 16-32 oz container with about one handful substrate for over a month or two without changing it out.

As much as you handle and disturb them, their lifespan will be shorten. They don't need a larger container to feel how large their house is. As much as they move and be active, their life span will be shorten as well. Keep that in mind. They don't develop any muscle to become healthier.

 

[RexaDynastes3516]

Thank you so much for replying quickly! As far as her curled legs, they seem to all curl to a “C” shape, whereas before they sort of moved freely and hooked onto their surroundings. Not sure if the legs are a part of the issue, although they did concern me to an extent! And it’s entirely possible that the daily cleaning is causing her the stress, I had no idea! Usually to clean the feces(or urine, as it seems), I spot clean the sides of the tank and remove the sections of substrate that have a sort of an odor to it, until it smells okay. It’s probably overkill to be cleaning it out so often, as she does seem to be unusually active! The size of tank is sufficient, and everything else seems to check out okay.