What should I use for D. Tityus larvae substrate?
- Thread starter Dragozap
- Start date
Some things are wrong in that book that gets people to follow it, but they could be changed. Just stay on the rotting wood path.
For egg laying? You're over thinking it, the female will drop eggs in 100% organic potting soil. Never had an unhealthy larva from this method. Save the good substrate for the larvae at late L1.
Obtaining substrate is always a perplexing question, especially when you first start the hobby. Your options are:
1. Buy from bugsincyberspace.com. Easiest, high quality, best choice for someone new. Yes, it cost but unless you opt for the other two options, this is your best choice. BIC's pricing is very good, the problem is the shipping. There is just no way to get around shipping a big bag of something. So it seems expensive but it's really the shipping cost.
2. Make your own flake soil by fermenting Oak BBQ pellets. There are many threads discussing this and the process. Besides the amount of work involved, it generally takes at least 3 months. So if you need the sub right away, this is not an option.
3. Go out into a forest and find decomposed oak (white rot) or other decomposed hard wood. This can be good if you are in an area that has dead oak trees or logs, etc. However, if you don't live in an area that is conducive to finding decomposed oak, this is can be super difficult and time consuming. ie: You drive for hours and then spend hours looking for decomposed wood, gather it, etc. For a lot of people this is just not practical. For those that have access to it, like a friend I know that has generously sent me some when I run low on sub, you are blessed!
These are the options that I am aware of. If there are other suggestions, please post them. Too bad we don't have stores here in the US like Japan that we can just drop by and pick up some substrate anytime we feel like it.
1. Buy from bugsincyberspace.com. Easiest, high quality, best choice for someone new. Yes, it cost but unless you opt for the other two options, this is your best choice. BIC's pricing is very good, the problem is the shipping. There is just no way to get around shipping a big bag of something. So it seems expensive but it's really the shipping cost.
2. Make your own flake soil by fermenting Oak BBQ pellets. There are many threads discussing this and the process. Besides the amount of work involved, it generally takes at least 3 months. So if you need the sub right away, this is not an option.
3. Go out into a forest and find decomposed oak (white rot) or other decomposed hard wood. This can be good if you are in an area that has dead oak trees or logs, etc. However, if you don't live in an area that is conducive to finding decomposed oak, this is can be super difficult and time consuming. ie: You drive for hours and then spend hours looking for decomposed wood, gather it, etc. For a lot of people this is just not practical. For those that have access to it, like a friend I know that has generously sent me some when I run low on sub, you are blessed!
These are the options that I am aware of. If there are other suggestions, please post them. Too bad we don't have stores here in the US like Japan that we can just drop by and pick up some substrate anytime we feel like it.
PowerHobo
Chalcosoma
The oak pellet method is what I'm attempting to do*, and frankly for the cost (around $1/lb) is extremely cost-efficient*. The hands-on time involved really isn't a big deal... it's not like we don't have a lot of "hurry up and wait" time on our hands in this hobby. A couple of lbs of oak flake from BIC will hold you over (depending on how many grubs you're rearing) for the months it takes to ferment.
I might be oversimplifying.
*Provided that they sell the oak pellets locally. Naturally, all Vegas Home Depot/Lowes carry pretty much every other wood for smoking, but zero oak. Shipping kills.
I might be oversimplifying.
*Provided that they sell the oak pellets locally. Naturally, all Vegas Home Depot/Lowes carry pretty much every other wood for smoking, but zero oak. Shipping kills.
So true!
Also, I was wondering what stage of rot the wood would need to be in order for it to be for good beetle breeding use. Thanks!
PowerHobo, you usually can get Oak pellets online at Amazon for a very good price which includes shipping. The last 20 lb bag that I bought was $19 shipped.
As far as Home Depot, they don't stock the oak pellets in my area but if I go online to the homedepot.com website, I can order it and then pick it up at the store for no additional shipping costs. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Traeger-Oak-Hardwood-Pellets-PEL310/205709052 However, you will have to check to see if they can ship to a store near you.
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PowerHobo
Chalcosoma
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Traeger Pellet Grills PEL310 Traeger Pellets would this work for the oak pellets you are talking about??? Found those on amazon, not sure if they are the same that Garin found.
Sorry, this is a super late reply, just saw it now. Yes, that is exactly the same pellets that most breeders use.