Eleodes prepupa larva getting darker in coloration or spots?

jreidsma

jreidsma

Eudicella
Hi everyone
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I have quite a few Eleodes prepupa/larva separated in their own chambers in my incubator. It is a five gallon aquarium with wet coconut coir in the bottom. The tempurature is around 70+ and the humidity is around 80%.

They kind of flattened out and got stiff like expected. But they have not done anything in over a month and are getting dark coloration or even spots on them. I am just wondering if maybe I am doing something wrong.

The humidity in my room without an incubator is around 40-50% but I don't know what the ideal humidity and air flow is for these.

 
im not sure if mealworms are the same but i keep them with 10 percent humidity... i had almost no trouble getting them turn to beetles...

 
Eleodes are a bit more picky that Tenebrio molitor or Z. morio. T. molitor and Z. morio have no problems with humidity that I have noticed.

Eleodes spinipes on the other hand, need minimal humidity. I don't have any of them in the incubator though.

 
Well, I meant how they curl slightly and don't move. I am thinking these ones died though.

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I have read through the complete guide to rearing darkling beetles. After re-reading it I may have found my problem. The glass lid I was using on the tank had a chunk missing of it allowing for some air flow. Maybe with the next larva I need to have no air flow and no moist substrate? the black spots are caused by too much moisture, from what I understand. And so maybe the 50% humidity in my room would be fine for them as long as they are closed up with no air flow. just maybe open the tank up once and a while?

Or maybe just have the substrate in there but not wet or anything?

No condensation is in with the larva, the bottom of their container has some because it is in contact with the substrate.

 
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Those are effectively dead even if they're not yet. They should get a little puffy rather than skinny before pupation.

 
Alright, so I need to rework my incubation chamber.

Some sort of container that has a lid, no air holes, and just a little tiny bit of slightly moist coconut coir?

Maybe a six quart sterilite tote would work if I cannot find a solid lid for the five gallon.

 
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