I'm not exactly sure what you call them other than just refrigerators, but I've been to a beetle shop with a refrigerator-esque cooler where he prolongs the lifespan of the pupae, and beetle larva via temperature control. He just sticks the enclosures in the cooler with a fungus-gnat killer outside and lets them do their thing. Does anyone know where to buy a cooler like that, or know what it's called? On a side note, at what temperature can I prolong lifespan of a beetle without killing it with extremes?
Higher Temperature Fridges?
- Thread starter Dragozap
- Start date
Wine cooler?
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PowerHobo
Chalcosoma
Wine coolers / wine refrigerators is what I've been recommended as well, although I still haven't picked one up.
A few reptile egg incubators also feature humidity controls and can refrigerate as well as heat, and have very good control over temps. They tend to be fairly pricey, though (at least for my budget).
Hisense makes a decent minifridge that has a higher max temp setting than many others (in the mid-high 40s f). I've been measuring one owned by a coworker at my office, and it's pretty consistent as well. These are much cheaper than incubators and most of the decent wine coolers I was able to find. I'm not sure that temp is acceptable for pupae, however. I think it might be better for keeping adults of species that overwinter.
A few reptile egg incubators also feature humidity controls and can refrigerate as well as heat, and have very good control over temps. They tend to be fairly pricey, though (at least for my budget).
Hisense makes a decent minifridge that has a higher max temp setting than many others (in the mid-high 40s f). I've been measuring one owned by a coworker at my office, and it's pretty consistent as well. These are much cheaper than incubators and most of the decent wine coolers I was able to find. I'm not sure that temp is acceptable for pupae, however. I think it might be better for keeping adults of species that overwinter.
The Mantis Menagerie
Fresh Imago
If you are the DIY type, look into Peltier cooling modules. They are not the most efficient method for removing heat from a space, but they can be controlled using simple thermostats since the chips run off of a 12-volt DC power supply. As far as I know, these chips are in most wine coolers, and they are the thermoelectric component of the Exo-Terra incubators. I am hoping to use some of these chips to cool a chamber for raising millipedes that require a cooler climate (Zoosphaerium neptunus is on my USDA permits if I could ever find a source).
JKim
Mecynorrhina
cooler, refrigerator, wine cooler, wine cellar, etc. I believe there is only two products from two different companies selling cooler manufactured to keep beetles inside. Other than that, they are ALL just coolers for wines and foodies.
You can EASILY diy it on a regular refrigerator for home or business, you just have to install numeric thermostat controller (instead of cooling level 1 to 10) with ventilation system. I can't quite remember the wiring anymore, but it was something like this in below for three-wire thermostat, and may be differ per model and types. Try google it. The wiring is basically same with incubator for reptiles, birds, etc. The only difference between incubator vs this is whether to heat up or cool down.
The good temperature may be different per species, since they all live in different places of the world. This breeding method is especially popular for Dorcus hopei group, and the ideal temperature is 18˚C to 22˚C (roughly 65˚F to 72˚F). Don't go below 18˚C, as larvae can undergo hibernation. Also, if you are placing it where it can easily drop below the lowest temperature (let's say 18˚C here) set up for the cooler, then you will also need a heating unit to operate when the temp drops down too much.
*By the way, it is not to prolong the lifespan. It is to have larvae consume more food in longer time period, so they can actually develop and emerge into larger adult beetles. Raise your L1-L2 larvae in warm condition to quickly molt into L3, THEN you will need to control temperature to lowest possible degrees to extend the time period of L3 stage.
You can EASILY diy it on a regular refrigerator for home or business, you just have to install numeric thermostat controller (instead of cooling level 1 to 10) with ventilation system. I can't quite remember the wiring anymore, but it was something like this in below for three-wire thermostat, and may be differ per model and types. Try google it. The wiring is basically same with incubator for reptiles, birds, etc. The only difference between incubator vs this is whether to heat up or cool down.
The good temperature may be different per species, since they all live in different places of the world. This breeding method is especially popular for Dorcus hopei group, and the ideal temperature is 18˚C to 22˚C (roughly 65˚F to 72˚F). Don't go below 18˚C, as larvae can undergo hibernation. Also, if you are placing it where it can easily drop below the lowest temperature (let's say 18˚C here) set up for the cooler, then you will also need a heating unit to operate when the temp drops down too much.
*By the way, it is not to prolong the lifespan. It is to have larvae consume more food in longer time period, so they can actually develop and emerge into larger adult beetles. Raise your L1-L2 larvae in warm condition to quickly molt into L3, THEN you will need to control temperature to lowest possible degrees to extend the time period of L3 stage.
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