Hi, I plan on getting a beetle as a pet. a dynastes tityus or a lucanus elaphus depending on what's available. what all would I need to properly take care of them? I have a terrarium that's about 18x18x24 and a heat lamp. I watched a video that said I'd need a substrate and that getting a insect friendly compost and mixing it with decaying wood and leaf litter would be alright. coincidentally my friend just had a tree call in their yard and was gonna check it out to see if I could use it. I was also gonna buy a mist bottle at the store and beetle jelly online. is there anything I'm missing or I'm misinformed about? Thanks in advance!
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things I would need for a pet beetle
- Thread starter Mykei
- Start date
Sterilize wild collected material, many freeze it for several days, you can also use heat. I don't know if a heat lamp is needed, room temp is probably
ok, you might want light though, try led full spectrum, there are many to choose from.
Adult stags and tityus are randomly offered, if at all, most sellers carry grubs though. Try "bugsincyberspace"
18 x18 x24 is big, nice, but you can go smaller. If we're talking inches.
Posting a want ad for adults might have some results.
Some adult beetles, like Lucanus elephus have a long life and even though they are a fully formed beetle, when it's not in their "time of life", they
will "hibernate" until their internal clock says wake up. I've got a female elephus that's in a small cage with substrate, she spends a lot of time
hiding, she does eat, and moves around, but goes back until she is just poking out, I'm raising grubs, and she's been an adult since 8-23-20,
I've got her at room temp, I expect she'll become more active in the spring, but I'm learning as well.
ok, you might want light though, try led full spectrum, there are many to choose from.
Adult stags and tityus are randomly offered, if at all, most sellers carry grubs though. Try "bugsincyberspace"
18 x18 x24 is big, nice, but you can go smaller. If we're talking inches.
Posting a want ad for adults might have some results.
Some adult beetles, like Lucanus elephus have a long life and even though they are a fully formed beetle, when it's not in their "time of life", they
will "hibernate" until their internal clock says wake up. I've got a female elephus that's in a small cage with substrate, she spends a lot of time
hiding, she does eat, and moves around, but goes back until she is just poking out, I'm raising grubs, and she's been an adult since 8-23-20,
I've got her at room temp, I expect she'll become more active in the spring, but I'm learning as well.
well I read room temp is the best but it's really cold where I'm at and I like to keep my windows open so I thought a heat lamp wouldn't hurt. I found multiple places to get some beetles I'm looking for. They're gonna come in as larva, just curious if I have everything covered or if I'm missing anything.
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Open windows in the cold. I won't be visiting.
You could try a small heat pad, it might be safer than a hot bulb, I think heat lamps are more for reptiles, which still need to be able to get away
and regulate their temperature. Seedling mats have lower temps than reptile pads..
The forum is a good place for information, there are also books that might help you as well.
If you're getting grubs, they'll be underground, and used to cooler temperatures seasonally. Perhaps a heat pad wouldn't work, it depends on how much
and how deep the substrate is, you can, as I have, use a pad and check the temp with a laser gun like they're using for people, and unplug
the pad periodically so it doesn't get too hot. The best way to get experience is to try, and the best way to avoid tragedy is to ask.
You could try a small heat pad, it might be safer than a hot bulb, I think heat lamps are more for reptiles, which still need to be able to get away
and regulate their temperature. Seedling mats have lower temps than reptile pads..
The forum is a good place for information, there are also books that might help you as well.
If you're getting grubs, they'll be underground, and used to cooler temperatures seasonally. Perhaps a heat pad wouldn't work, it depends on how much
and how deep the substrate is, you can, as I have, use a pad and check the temp with a laser gun like they're using for people, and unplug
the pad periodically so it doesn't get too hot. The best way to get experience is to try, and the best way to avoid tragedy is to ask.
When I mixed flake soil with wild collected material, it was a very slow disaster. I think most people have the best results with well made flake soil,
either home made or purchased. My Elephus grubs grew very slowly and never matured properly. Next time, I'll skip the forest.
either home made or purchased. My Elephus grubs grew very slowly and never matured properly. Next time, I'll skip the forest.