Hello, I have never taken care of a beetle grub before so this is my first time.
I have a problem with my Xylotrupes pachycera grub. I recently changed the substrate because it was around the 1 month period. A little before this substrate change, I could tell she was being more active as she was moving around the container frequently (she always used to stay near the bottom/in the middle of the container where I couldn't see her). After this substrate change, she has been resurfacing every morning. I am confused because it seems like she has a schedule to come out, she never resurfaces at any other time. She has gone back in by herself, however sometimes I freak out and try to help her back in. This morning, I saw her laying on her back with her legs up on top of the surface. I poked her to see if she was squishy because I was worried she was dying because of all the resurfacing she's been doing. She wasn't squishy thankfully, and she went right back into the dirt after.
It seems like every time she goes back in the dirt, she always resurfaces next morning. She has never done this before I changed the substrate.
Some background information:
I got my grub from David's beetles on December 4th, 2024. She is an L3 and I bought her under the Pachycera Rhino Beetle larvae listing on the website. I also bought my rhino beetle flake soil from David's beetles. I made sure to aerate the new flake soil weeks before she got shipped over. I keep her enclosure at around 72 F, as that seems to be the temperature she likes it at. When I changed the substrate after 1 month, I made sure to squeeze the soil and make sure it kept its shape without dripping water. I also made sure to keep the container half filled with her original substrate, and then put the new substrate on top. I keep her in a 32 ounce deli cup, and the substrate is filled up to 10-11 cm.
I measured her and she was around 22 grams. I know this isn't heavy enough for pupation which is why I'm confused with all her resurfacing. She is also not yellow enough in color.
As for the smell of her enclosure, it smells like dirt. I was afraid that after I aerated the flake soil and kept it in a bag for a month before changing the substrate, it would need to be aerated again, however I smelt that bag and it has a subtle earthy smell, not ammonia. When I smelt her used substrate bag though, it smelt a lot more strong. I'm having a hard time describing this smell, just know that it smells strong.
I would appreciate any kind of help I can get, as I really want to take good care of my new little friend.
I have a problem with my Xylotrupes pachycera grub. I recently changed the substrate because it was around the 1 month period. A little before this substrate change, I could tell she was being more active as she was moving around the container frequently (she always used to stay near the bottom/in the middle of the container where I couldn't see her). After this substrate change, she has been resurfacing every morning. I am confused because it seems like she has a schedule to come out, she never resurfaces at any other time. She has gone back in by herself, however sometimes I freak out and try to help her back in. This morning, I saw her laying on her back with her legs up on top of the surface. I poked her to see if she was squishy because I was worried she was dying because of all the resurfacing she's been doing. She wasn't squishy thankfully, and she went right back into the dirt after.
It seems like every time she goes back in the dirt, she always resurfaces next morning. She has never done this before I changed the substrate.
Some background information:
I got my grub from David's beetles on December 4th, 2024. She is an L3 and I bought her under the Pachycera Rhino Beetle larvae listing on the website. I also bought my rhino beetle flake soil from David's beetles. I made sure to aerate the new flake soil weeks before she got shipped over. I keep her enclosure at around 72 F, as that seems to be the temperature she likes it at. When I changed the substrate after 1 month, I made sure to squeeze the soil and make sure it kept its shape without dripping water. I also made sure to keep the container half filled with her original substrate, and then put the new substrate on top. I keep her in a 32 ounce deli cup, and the substrate is filled up to 10-11 cm.
I measured her and she was around 22 grams. I know this isn't heavy enough for pupation which is why I'm confused with all her resurfacing. She is also not yellow enough in color.
As for the smell of her enclosure, it smells like dirt. I was afraid that after I aerated the flake soil and kept it in a bag for a month before changing the substrate, it would need to be aerated again, however I smelt that bag and it has a subtle earthy smell, not ammonia. When I smelt her used substrate bag though, it smelt a lot more strong. I'm having a hard time describing this smell, just know that it smells strong.
I would appreciate any kind of help I can get, as I really want to take good care of my new little friend.