Making an Aquarium Escape-Proof

L

Laserhamster1

L1
Hello all! 

After 2 years, my D. tityus beetles have finally become adults. I've set up an aquarium from Carolina Biological Supply to house them in, but the edges of the tank have been sealed with a clear caulk of some sort to prevent leaks. I'm sure this is useful for fish, but fish can't climb! My male repeatedly tries to climb in the corners of the tank and has made it about halfway up. I'm sure he'll eventually make it to the lid... Any ideas on how to make the corners ungrabbable? I've tried peeling the caulk off but it won't pull in one piece, so anything else would likely be easier.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

 
I imagine you could use a razor to cut the excess? I think using petroleum jelly might be dangerous because they might try to eat it. There's not much you can really do besides putting them in a container that they just can't get out of, if you can't prevent climbing. Something with a locking lid or using a piece of an old aquarium wall for the lid (bear in mind this will mess with your humidity a lot and may make it too wet). Having a hide (like a log hide) might also help, because then he may want to spend his time in somewhere cozy, moist and dark instead of looking for somewhere else to go if his cage is just dirt and nothing else. Having sphagnum moss and goodies to dig around and hide under have stopped all my beetles from trying to climb, but mine are ox beetles and are a lot smaller. Good luck!

 
You do have a lid right? I'm sure you know that if the lid is not secure, D titus will push the lid off and fly off. Those guys are really strong. I had a friend ship me a D tityus in a plastic container with a lid on that was taped shut. I guess during shipment the D tityus pushed and pushed and eventually created enough of a gap on the lid and squeezed out. When I received the box there was a nice hole in the box and of course no beetle.

 
I have heard that liquid Teflon is good for preventing escapes, and beetles shouldn't try to eat it. For my insects, I use large Sterilite bins with latches to keep them contained. If you want a glass aquarium for the aesthetic advantages over a translucent plastic tub, then there are special tank clips you can buy to secure the lid. These clips are built for use with pet ball pythons and other strong reptiles, so they should easily hold a beetle. 

 
I use aquariums for my roaches and a one inch spread of vaseline near the top edge will keep them from reaching the top.

 
I worry about beetles trying to eat Vaseline since it has a similar consistency to rotting fruit. Teflon dries and shouldn't be taste-testable. I think the best way to prevent escapes is to use latching plastic tubs with ventilation holes that are smaller than the beetle. The tank clips should be effective on a glass aquarium. With a secure lid, and small ventilation holes, escapes should be impossible (unless, of course, you forget to use the latches, leave the lid off...). 

 
Yes, fish tank glass sheets are bound with glue as well as silicone caulk to prevent any water leaks. But... how thick is your silicone caulk? I never heard anyone rearing in aquarium tank having such problem. Try use razor blades to thin the caulk, or just place something on the lid. Like a textbook. Also, make sure you have enough wood branches or something to grab on, in case, the beetle falls off upside down as it climbs.

 
This might sound silly, but what if you use Vaseline with baby powder on top of It? That way there it won't be a tempting snack because the outside won't have the texture of rotting fruit. 

 
The best thing to do would just be to tape the lid shut, there’s a reason they use the silicone like that (I’ve made terrariums before) and if you cut it off the aquarium is a lot more likely to just fall apart. I’ve never heard of beetles eating it (although roaches will sometimes) 

 
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