Dynastes tityus larvae feeding?

[GiantVinegaroon]

So I hatched 3 larvae, and I suspect they are feeding. After all, they are still alive, and the ends of their abdomens are slightly blackish blue. The substrate consists of some coco fiber, crushed up oak, and crushed up oak and beech leaves, the last 2 consisting of most of the substrate. For some reason, I feel the ENTIRE absomen should be looking blackish blue on L1 larvae, but thought I'd check in with you guys to see what you experience with L1's and their growth at first.

 

[Oak]

i think you should take out the coco fiber, and put some organic soil instead. and that is normal for D.Tityus.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

i think you should take out the coco fiber, and put some organic soil instead. and that is normal for D.Tityus.

I have organic choice potting mix by miraclegro. Is this ok, or should I find another brand of organic potting soil? If the latter, which brand would you or other users recommend?

 

[Oak]

I have organic choice potting mix by miraclegro. Is this ok, or should I find another brand of organic potting soil? If the latter, which brand would you or other users recommend?

you should be fine with them. 50% oak, 45%leaves,5% potting soil. so 50:45:5 should be good.

 

[Dynastes]

you should be fine with them. 50% oak, 45%leaves,5% potting soil. so 50:45:5 should be good.

I'd try to find a source for good compost. Potting soil is only going to add possible contaminants that could block up the digestive system if they're eaten at all and won't add any value so I'd suggest 50:50:0

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

I'd try to find a source for good compost. Potting soil is only going to add possible contaminants that could block up the digestive system if they're eaten at all and won't add any value so I'd suggest 50:50:0

Orin, would you only reocmmend compost manure like in your book, or could I use compost that isn't manure? I have a feeling I can easily find the latter, as the compost manure is only in 50 lb bags in my area....way more than I need. I'm trying to make everything perfect for them.

I should add it'd be tricky to get the coco fiber out since the leaves and hardwood are already mixed in with it. I am pretty sure the coco fiber shouldn't cause a problem...as I know people who have reared granti with coco fiber in the mix.

 

[Ryan Minard]

It's quite simple... There is more than one way to raise the larvae (and this goes for many dynastids):

50:50 leaves and wood sounds great! There are, however, other mixes. Here is one that I am using right now:

1- fungi infested flakes found inside the hollow cavities of a white oak

2- white heartwood of white oak and water oak

3- Rich dark soil collected from the woods and osmoderma cages

4- White oak dried heartwood powder (from logs found in the wild)

5- Oak leaves

6- crushed bark bits from white oak and water oak

(BESS BEETLE FECES CAN BE ADDED TO THE MIX SOMETIMES FOR WOOD FLAKE CONTENT!)

Now this is the ratio (in order of ingredients listed)

30:5:35:5:10:5

Now... the fungi wood flakes were disinfected etc and didnt cause any mold problems in the end.

So far the larvae are big L2 and are quite chubby

. So I guess it works. I know that it's not a high leaf ratio, but a lot of the times, reallyyyy decayed wood works just as good (like the kind used for cyclommatus).

Oh and processed wood (from odontotaenius or osmoderma feces) is a QUITE good additive.

I hope this helps.

No need to follow this RELIGIOUSLY, as everyone makes their's differently. Some people use no leaves at all. Some use many leaves. Overall though, avoid something that isn't natural (from the wild) unless it has been experimented with and works quite well. I believe the organic miracle grow works somewhat... but there are better options (Osmoderma feces are far richer).

OH... and Orin. Good point! Compost works! I guess my mix is much like compost in the end anyways

.

 

[GiantVinegaroon]

It's quite simple... There is more than one way to raise the larvae (and this goes for many dynastids):

50:50 leaves and wood sounds great! There are, however, other mixes. Here is one that I am using right now:

1- fungi infested flakes found inside the hollow cavities of a white oak

2- white heartwood of white oak and water oak

3- Rich dark soil collected from the woods and osmoderma cages

4- White oak dried heartwood powder (from logs found in the wild)

5- Oak leaves

6- crushed bark bits from white oak and water oak

(BESS BEETLE FECES CAN BE ADDED TO THE MIX SOMETIMES FOR WOOD FLAKE CONTENT!)

Now this is the ratio (in order of ingredients listed)

30:5:35:5:10:5

Now... the fungi wood flakes were disinfected etc and didnt cause any mold problems in the end.

So far the larvae are big L2 and are quite chubby

. So I guess it works. I know that it's not a high leaf ratio, but a lot of the times, reallyyyy decayed wood works just as good (like the kind used for cyclommatus).

Oh and processed wood (from odontotaenius or osmoderma feces) is a QUITE good additive.

I hope this helps.

No need to follow this RELIGIOUSLY, as everyone makes their's differently. Some people use no leaves at all. Some use many leaves. Overall though, avoid something that isn't natural (from the wild) unless it has been experimented with and works quite well. I believe the organic miracle grow works somewhat... but there are better options (Osmoderma feces are far richer).

OH... and Orin. Good point! Compost works! I guess my mix is much like compost in the end anyways

.

Thanks for the tips! I'm just leaving the D tityus larvae alone now. I'm pretty sure the coco fiber is safe since I do know people who have raised granti larvae in wood/cocofiber. In fact, they've tossed them into other containers, forgotten them, then came back to find monstrous L3s crawling around lol!

Unfortunately, access to bess beetle and osmoderma feces is out of the question....

...and do you guys use compost manure or just any compost?

 

[Johnboy]

Interesting thread, I've got mine on oak wood /leaves 50/50...