Question on getting started

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excal88

L1
Hi guys! So I'm starting to get things ready for my future beetles, and I was wondering if I could see if I'm going in the right direction. I was looking at a large critter container as the enclosure, and I was going to go down to a canyon near a national forest (cleveland national forest in El Toro for those in So Cal) to get leaf litter. From what I heard, the leaf litter is from oak, and I was going to look for some rotting oak as well. My main question/concern is if oak would be good for potentially having beetles lay eggs, and also if it would be good enough for the beetle larvae to grow in. Thanks in advance!

 
I wouldn't suggest those critter keeper type cages, way too much ventilation. You want your rhino/stag beetle enclosures to be humid, so I would get a shoebox or some other plastic container with a tight lid and drill or melt some ventilation holes in the lid and sides.

Oak leaves and wood are great for insects that feed on rotten wood and leaves, some might say it is the best actually. Hope you can find some suitable materials as well as some cool inverts on your trip!
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Thanks Hisserdude! Would a plastic storage container from target be good? Just wash it out and drill a few holes in the lid be good? Also, what would be the best way to sterilize the leaf litter and oak logs? What would be the process? Thanks again!

 
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Just wanted to say that I'm also in SoCal and also just getting started. Would love to join you on your gathering trip!

 
excal88 said:
Thanks Hisserdude! Would a plastic storage container from target be good? Just wash it out and drill a few holes in the lid be good? Also, what would be the best way to sterilize the leaf litter and oak logs? What would be the process? Thanks again!
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Yup, that sort of container should be just fine for your beetles.
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Yup, just drill a couple dozen holes in the lid, and along the upper sides of the enclosure too, cross-ventilation is more important than ventilation on the lid.

You can cook it in your oven, in your microwave, you can boil it, leave it in plastic bags out in the sun, or in plastic bags in your car when it's parked in the sun, etc. There are lots of ways to do it, so far the most commonly used method is to put the stuff in the oven. Just put the wood/leaves on a tray in the oven, cook it at about 200 Fahrenheit and leave it in for a few hours I think is how people do it. Make sure the wood or leaves are wet though, otherwise you'll start a fire.

 
Really glad I saw this topic, as I had just moved my larvae into a critter styled cage with a bunch of substrate. I tried sealing the top with tight seran wrap and poked some holes in before sticking the critter cage top back on just as a temporary fix. I'll probably look for something far more suitable tommorrow once I get back home from work. I have a bunch of plastic shoe-boxed sized cubbies, would those be ok to utilize once properly cleaned?

 
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