Grub not pupating

E

Elephant

Egg
I recently got an ox beetle grub who was supposedly hatched in October. This is the first time I’ve owned a beetle and he has yet to pupate. I’m currently at work (I work at a summer camp, living there for the summer) and I brought him along with. It’s a little difficult to regulate his temperature with there being generally no AC in most areas but he’s still alive and within the correct range, I come back to check his temperature whenever I can.

i am worried there could be something wrong for a number of reasons.

1. His temperature. Soon the weather will get hotter and I’ll be moving back and forth from cabins to tents depending on where I’m placed for my campers (currently in a cabin, will be moving to a tent this coming week). I can’t plug in fans in tents if it’s too hot for him. 
 

2. His substrate. I made it myself using potting soil and rotted wood. He did burrow into it when I replaced his old substrate with this but I’m worried it’s not good enough for him. 

Should I be concerned? And what should I be concerned about?

 
Hello, 

I have raised Ox beetles and, like other Dynastids, can take a while to pupate once they reach L3. As of the temperature, beetles will usually pupate faster under warmer temps, but don’t let it get too hot. I think the thing you should most be concerned about is the substrate. What container are you using for him? What rotted wood did you use?

 
Eduardo said:
Hello, 

I have raised Ox beetles and, like other Dynastids, can take a while to pupate once they reach L3. As of the temperature, beetles will usually pupate faster under warmer temps, but don’t let it get too hot. I think the thing you should most be concerned about is the substrate. What container are you using for him? What rotted wood did you use?
Click to expand...
Hi, same person different account. I switched him to flake soil months ago and I’ve since put him in a tall glass jar using a piece of felt fabric as a lid because I worried maybe the level of the dirt was too low. He still hasn’t pupated and I’m growing far more concerned for him at this point. (I’ve attached this pic I took of him today during his weekly check up but it’s not showing up for me so idk if it will for you. But if so does he look ok? I love him very much and I’m very concerned for him)

IMG_4924 3.jpg

 
Hello, perhaps the substrate isn’t compactale enough. I’ve had Strategus pupate in small, 16 ounce enclosures, but the flake soil has to be deep enough and moist. Other than that, perhaps he simply isn’t ready yet. They can take quite a long time, and because of the picture I can see he still has substrate inside him. Good luck!

 
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