jreidsma Posted October 8, 2012 Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 Hi everyone I have almost no access to wood, and so I am a bit limited on what beetles I can keep. I would love to keep the larger beetles like Dynastes but I cannot get enough wood for them. Right now I am mainly keeping Eleodes, and then a few cultures of things like bean weevils, spider beetles, Tenebrio molitor, and a few diabolical ironclads. None of them necessarily need wood that I have seen. So what beetles would you all recommend I look into? I am wanting to get into some that are possibly a bit bigger than Eleodes, but nothing that requires wood or anything special. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardshell Posted October 8, 2012 Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 giant water bugs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiantVinegaroon Posted October 8, 2012 Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 giant water bugs? he said beetles. not true bugs. You can probably find some carabids in logs this time of year....Harpalus? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jreidsma Posted October 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 There are harpalus in my yard, but they seem to only eat crickets which would get rather expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiantVinegaroon Posted October 8, 2012 Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 There are harpalus in my yard, but they seem to only eat crickets which would get rather expensive. You're breeding mealworms. There are no excuses to be unable to feed predators. Rip the mealies in half if they aren't taking them right away. They will also eat fish food. I've never had a ground beetle refuse fish food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jreidsma Posted October 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 Even the larva eat fish food? I just started the mealworms so there aren't any larva of them to feed yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GiantVinegaroon Posted October 8, 2012 Report Share Posted October 8, 2012 Even the larva eat fish food? I just started the mealworms so there aren't any larva of them to feed yet. Never bred them. Carabids aren't really a species that breeds well unless you're talking tiger beetles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jreidsma Posted October 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I would rather have stuff that would breed. Tiger beetles are awesome, but I cannot find any. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardshell Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 oops. misread that. diving beetles? they are easy to keep... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jreidsma Posted October 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I have always wanted diving beetles, I caught a bunch while I was camping but they all died shortly after all at the same time for some reason. They wouldn't eat anything I gave them either, at least that I noticed. Now if I bought some they would probably do well, but if I ever see them for sell they aren't very cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardshell Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 im keeping cybister species. very cool and big beetle. very aggressive and bites my hand all the time. only down side is that they are hard to breed and makes very strong odor when threatened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jreidsma Posted October 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Sounds like a cool beetle Those are huge compared to the water beetles around here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oak Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 what i do is keep using the wood that i gave to my larva for other larva. so it doesn't go to a waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Did you go to petco and get a bag of aspen shavings? The longer you wait the longer it will take. Many months are needed to make them useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jreidsma Posted October 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 Did you go to petco and get a bag of aspen shavings? The longer you wait the longer it will take. Many months are needed to make them useful. I didn't know petco sold wood shavings, I will have to check that out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inle Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 I think he is talking about small animal bedding, type wood shavings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jreidsma Posted October 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 Oh, I never thought about that. Maybe like the wood bedding for hamsters and small animals? Blend it up and let it sit for a while moist/wet and let it decompose a little maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inle Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 That is the only aspen I know that pet stores sell. I'm not sure how you would treat it to make it ready. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hardshell Posted October 11, 2012 Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 my petsmart sells one of those half rotten crushed wood. smells like oak but i cant remember the name. it has some moisture in the bag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jreidsma Posted October 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2012 I think I know what you are talking about, hardshell, its by the reptile stuff and its in a big bag. Looks like wood chips that have decomposed a little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.