Water Beetle Aquariums

okay, yeah, I found this link just now to some photos of eggs from these beetles: http://bugguide.net/node/view/90097

I'll pick out all the snails. I'd been thinking they were actually kind of cute, but not if it means sacrificing my next generation of beetles!

Thanks for confirming those eggs were from snails.

I'll definitely post a note if I start to see some eggs. I forgot to mention I have two big clumps of moss where the water meets the land in the tank. There is a narrow path that opens between them that leads up onto the "beach".

I'll put the adults in another tank if the larvae ever show up. I did check the water pretty carefully last night to see if there was anything unusual swimming around, but saw nothing. Are the hatchlings white or yellowish. Also, am I correct in guessing they would be at least as long as the ova?

Thanks again!

 
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Peter Clausen said:
okay, yeah, I found this link just now to some photos of eggs from these beetles: http://bugguide.net/node/view/90097
I'll pick out all the snails. I'd been thinking they were actually kind of cute, but not if it means sacrificing my next generation of beetles!

Thanks for confirming those eggs were from snails.

I'll definitely post a note if I start to see some eggs. I forgot to mention I have two big clumps of moss where the water meets the land in the tank. There is a narrow path that opens between them that leads up onto the "beach".

I'll put the adults in another tank if the larvae ever show up. I did check the water pretty carefully last night to see if there was anything unusual swimming around, but saw nothing. Are the hatchlings white or yellowish. Also, am I correct in guessing they would be at least as long as the ova?

Thanks again!
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the hatchlings are kinda clear color,what i remember with mine,they were alittle smaller than the adults,awesome little guys,there were so many in my tank,but by the time i came home from work to seperate them they were gone. if ya get some larvas(hopefully you will) they should be a blast to raise,ive raised the larger ssp.(dytiscus)water tigers,and man they are way more savage than the adults
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I'm wondering if my remaining beetles are all males, now. I'm not seeing any eggs after around a month with the new tank set up. They were all adults when I collected them on August 29th.

Thanks for the feeder suggestions!

 
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I did find some eggs in my whirligig beetle aquarium. I'm not sure if they're fertile or if they'll hatch. I keep them at around 75 degrees during the day. They are underwater because that is how I discovered them in the aquarium, though there were no above-surface options for the beetles. I learned my lesson with Giant Water bugs this fall when they laid below the waterline= death to the eggs. Anybody know about whirligig eggs?

 
I'm not an expert, but they don't need a filter all that much. Something small that doesn't make too much of a current and one that won't suck the beetles into it.

I typically collect diving beetles in ponds or areas with slow-moving water.

More frequent water changes are required if you don't use a filter, though the beetles don't need clean water as much as fish do since they go to the surface to breathe air.

 
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I'll plug the Duetto DJ50, which I use exclusively for my Dytiscid tanks and feel it's just about perfect. They have a relatively low heat output for one, and a completely adjustable flowrate. I've had some for over 9 years now and they're still working fine. Also, you can add new filter media inside the cartridge and don't just have to use the provided sponge media solely. The guard on the intake is small enough to stop stuff like Laccophilus adults even, but it will take in tiny, newly hatched larvae. But don't worry, the larvae are simply trapped against the sponge filter at worst so the filter can be turned off and the larvae collected and returned to the tank. Also, if you've adjusted the flow to the lowest setting, even small larvae can resist the suction.

 
Shoegazer, could you describe how you set up the tank to promote egg-laying by Thermonectus spp. water beetles? A member named Manticora had commented on this earlier in the thread (last year) and I'd appreciate hearing a second first-hand account/experience.

 
Peter Clausen said:
Shoegazer, could you describe how you set up the tank to promote egg-laying by Thermonectus spp. water beetles? A member named Manticora had commented on this earlier in the thread (last year) and I'd appreciate hearing a second first-hand account/experience.
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Well, I'd venture to say that what might work for one wouldn't necessarily work for others, based on what I've seen with the 3 species I've kept. Sunbursts seem to want to lay above water in sand or soil but I'm told from others that they've had them lay on the emergent filter cord, just above the waterline on the glass, etc. You'll see from my photos that intermedius laid right on aquatic plants, under the water. I have yet to see the eggs of the Ornates, I've simply found larvae in the tank. It suggests that they're laying underwater.

 
Hmm...I wasn't able to get my sunburts to lay at all. Thanks for the additional info. I'll be trying again someday! Hey, I think I'll go down to that local pond this weekend and poke around a bit.

 
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