larva at the top of the container?

sus

sus

L2
UPDATE: Changes were made thanks to the suggestion of upgrading my container for her and I think she is doing ok now she doesn't feel squishy anymore! the issue was that her container was MUCH too small for a L2 and too many large holes!

I have a dynastes granti larvae and I have been noticing something different about their behavior; she's been rising to the top of the tank recently and at first I thought that was kinda cute and strange but upon reading a few posts on here i found this may be a sign of a health issue? I used to check on her... a lot more than I needed to because I was nervous I was doing something wrong, but I then felt everything was fine so I stopped checking on her a few weeks. Now I come back to her today and have a feeling something is wrong? I didn't relaly take notes on how she felt before but she feels maybe kinda light and squishy and just kinda small. That might just be me being skeptical though. Another thing i noticed is I haven't seen her poop in a while, almost everytime when i used checked on her so much she pooped, but again could just be me being a worry wart.

Basically I just wanna know what kinda risks I could be running into right now if my assumptions about her condition is what it seems.

I took a picture of her in case someone was able to spot anything: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/369981490332958723/417559510282928143/image.jpg

 
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ill add onto this by saying this change might have happened due to extra ventilation... what type of health issues are due to over ventilation?

 
Check for mites in the container. She could be being bothered by those little pests.

Larvae can also rise because of not enough air, but you say he’s over ventilated?

 
The substrate looks quite moist, maybe too moist, and if its too moist it may have eaten all of the substrate, as moisture makes fecal pellets decay and break apart. It may be rising to find food and/or drier areas. How long ago did you check on it? And how big is the cage. Also, how long ago did you add new substrate?

 
Bugboy3092 said:
The substrate looks quite moist, maybe too moist, and if its too moist it may have eaten all of the substrate, as moisture makes fecal pellets decay and break apart. It may be rising to find food and/or drier areas. How long ago did you check on it? And how big is the cage. Also, how long ago did you add new substrate?
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That was directly after I sprayed some water in and mixed it in with the more dryer substrate, I actually hadn't dampened the substrate in a while and it might have actually gotten a little too dry since i wasn't paying attention. I have only had her for 3 months and haven't changed it since. She's in a pretty big container for one single larv (i think) 11 inches wide 2 inches deep of edible compost from peter.

heres a pic of the set up: https://gyazo.com/a79983456fecf2b9a7be83d79d521051

 
From my experience and the information I've gleaned here on the forum: surfacing itself isn't a big issue, but if the larva(e) surface and just hanging out there, it's concerning and likely points to a health or substrate issue.

Of the 3 larvae I've had exhibit these behavior as well as the "squishy" feeling you're mentioning, all 3 have died. You'll find that scarabaeidae larvae feel "squishy" like this shortly after death, as well (at least with all of the deaths I've experienced).

As far as your ventilation, those holes look pretty big. The typical rule of thumb is better to have many spread-out pin holes rather than few larger drilled holes. Also, I can see what looks like plastic debris left on a couple of those holes. You should do your best remove this after making your holes, as there is a slim chance the larvae can ingest this debris and it could kill them if it impacts their gut, and also there is a chance that your larvae could hurt themselves on it.

How long has this larva been on the surface?

 
PowerHobo said:
From my experience and the information I've gleaned here on the forum: surfacing itself isn't a big issue, but if the larva(e) surface and just hanging out there, it's concerning and likely points to a health or substrate issue.

Of the 3 larvae I've had exhibit these behavior as well as the "squishy" feeling you're mentioning, all 3 have died. You'll find that scarabaeidae larvae feel "squishy" like this shortly after death, as well (at least with all of the deaths I've experienced).

As far as your ventilation, those holes look pretty big. The typical rule of thumb is better to have many spread-out pin holes rather than few larger drilled holes. Also, I can see what looks like plastic debris left on a couple of those holes. You should do your best remove this after making your holes, as there is a slim chance the larvae can ingest this debris and it could kill them if it impacts their gut, and also there is a chance that your larvae could hurt themselves on it.

How long has this larva been on the surface?
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Ah yeah that is concerning. I could cover it with some plastic wrap or something. And ill be sure to do that I see what you mean about the debri its stuff that wouldnt come off but ill go back and rip em off.

She comes and goes, I usually see her do that and then she goes back under when water the substrate. Its kinda hard to say how long she's been doing it because ive only seen it a couple times. I checked her today and she wasn't on top today.

 
The "squishy" feeling is not a good sign and as PowerHobo says, larvae with that sort of floppy feeling usually don't make it.

Also, you say the substrate is only 2 inches deep? It should be deeper, D. grantii like to burrow. The width of the container matters less than the depth. I have L3 grantii in containers that are about 4.5 inches wide by 6 inches deep.

 
arizonablue said:
The "squishy" feeling is not a good sign and as PowerHobo says, larvae with that sort of floppy feeling usually don't make it.

Also, you say the substrate is only 2 inches deep? It should be deeper, D. grantii like to burrow. The width of the container matters less than the depth. I have L3 grantii in containers that are about 4.5 inches wide by 6 inches deep.
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I will switch out her container and add some more substrate, hopefully this squishy feeling isn't as fatal as it looks. Thank you

 
sus said:
I have a dynastes granti larvae and I have been noticing something different about their behavior; she's been rising to the top of the tank recently and at first I thought that was kinda cute and strange but upon reading a few posts on here i found this may be a sign of a health issue? I used to check on her... a lot more than I needed to because I was nervous I was doing something wrong, but I then felt everything was fine so I stopped checking on her a few weeks. Now I come back to her today and have a feeling something is wrong? I didn't relaly take notes on how she felt before but she feels maybe kinda light and squishy and just kinda small. That might just be me being skeptical though. Another thing i noticed is I haven't seen her poop in a while, almost everytime when i used checked on her so much she pooped, but again could just be me being a worry wart.

Basically I just wanna know what kinda risks I could be running into right now if my assumptions about her condition is what it seems.

I took a picture of her in case someone was able to spot anything: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/369981490332958723/417559510282928143/image.jpg
Click to expand...
Update: I have gotten her dirt nice and moist (not overly moist of course) and put her in a bigger container. My fault for thinking 2 inches was good enough for an L2 dynastes granti... I will be giving another larger container for my smaller L2 megasoma punc. and ill keep a better eye on her. Thank you everyone I have hope she will be ok

 
One big problem in beetle keeping is thinking the larvae needs super moist substrate. Make sure there is enough air holes too.

 
Ratmosphere said:
One big problem in beetle keeping is thinking the larvae needs super moist substrate. Make sure there is enough air holes too.
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Wait a minute, I think the Ult. Guide to Breeding Beetles says that Dynastes ventilation should be minimal and that lack of oxygen is due to substrate starting to rot.

Who else has a copy here? I’m currently away from mine.

 
I usually keep them in either three gallon tubs (from Walmart, Walmart is awesome for containers) or 16 ounce deli cups, both of them probably allow at least some airflow, but keep good humidity. 16 ounce deli cups are usually the go-to for most types of beetle larvae.

 
PowerHobo said:
Did your D granti end up surviving after the move the larger container?
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YES!!! i decided to check on her when I saw this message and she is doing awesome, no longer squishy. I think the issue might have been humidity and sizing bc the changes I made where not only the size of the container but the humidity as well. there was hardly any humidity with all the holes. so I put a big plastic baggie on top with a rubber band with no holes. and shes no longer squishy! she feels just like the other larvae.

 
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