Help - blue death feigning beetles

[csliv36]

Hello all,

I have three blue death feigning beetles that have been awesome pets the past year or so. They're the best! However, yesterday one seemed to have died. I thought he was playing dead until this morning. I can't tell if he's dying or dead but either way, this is no good. And now today, another one is hardly moving. I'm extremely worried and I'm not sure what to do. I haven't changed their routine at all, however, they haven't had jelly in about 1.5 months. They've just been eating dog food and occasional veggies until my next order of jelly comes in. I am not sure what could be the problem, and I'm wondering if there is anything that you could suggest? I just find it strange that they went from perfectly normal to very sad in just a day. I have to leave for the day and I'm really hoping that I don't come home to dead/dying beetles

If anyone has any suggestions, I would really appreciate it! These little guys are basically my babies

Cassidy

 

[arizonablue]

If they're playing dead, the limbs are usually rigid and not easily manipulated. If they're legitimately (and recently!) dead, the limbs will sort of flop around loosely. (If they've been dead for a while, this won't be true.)

If they've been eating fruit/veg they should have been getting plenty of water from that, so the lack of jelly probably isn't an issue. Maybe offer a greater variety of fruit/veg in case there's some nutrient they're missing? Is there a chance they ate something that might have had pesticides on it? Unwashed apple with the skin on or anything?

It's a possibility that they are just near the end of their lifespan, too. Hope they perk up for you!

 

[Hisserdude]

Like Arizonablue said, if the beetle is limp and pliable, then it's dead, but if it still is stiff then it could be faking. They may just be at the end of their lifespan, they are wild caught after all. Your care sounds good, so besides old age I can't imagine why they would be dying. Are they being kept in temperatures lower than 70F?

Also, just wondering, you do feed them dog food end when they have jelly, right?

 

[csliv36]

Ok thank you! I appreciate your help

Yeah the limbs are stiff but he has already been like this for a day now.

There's definitely nothing with pesticides on it and yes I do feed them dog food when I have the jelly.

Their temperature is good during the day but at night I turn their light off. I've been told that that should be fine. Is this true?

 

[Hisserdude]

Ok thank you! I appreciate your help

Yeah the limbs are stiff but he has already been like this for a day now.

There's definitely nothing with pesticides on it and yes I do feed them dog food when I have the jelly.

Their temperature is good during the day but at night I turn their light off. I've been told that that should be fine. Is this true?

Hmm... well he may be dead, but if he is still stiff then maybe not. Try putting it in one corner of the cage and see if he is still there tomorrow or if he moved somewhere else.

Good, was just wondering since I don't know if beetle jellies have protein or not, which is a crucial part of a darkling beetle's diet. Yeah turning the light off during the night is OK, they are used to cool nights in the desert, and it's probably not good to have the light on 24/7.