KICritters Posted August 11, 2016 Report Share Posted August 11, 2016 I'm new to the beetle hobby and would like to hear what some of your favorite species to keep are to help me get an idea where I may want to start Also what king of supplies (substrate, food, etc) would be good standard to keep around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenevanica Posted August 11, 2016 Report Share Posted August 11, 2016 I love Asbolus verrucosus! They're my all time favorite beetle species! Really, I love love Tenebrionids all around. They're super easy to care for too! You say you're starting with beetles? I recommend you check out bugsincyberspace.com. If you go with darkling beetles, I suggest you purchase these two "kits": http://shop.bugsincyberspace.com/Desert-Beetle-Sampler-bic973.htm http://shop.bugsincyberspace.com/Complete-Desert-Beetle-Habitat-Kit-bic858.htm Or, you can just purchase the blue death feigning beetles separately here: http://shop.bugsincyberspace.com/Blue-Death-Feigning-Beetle-bic977.htm They're out of stock at the moment, but I promise you they'll be back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KICritters Posted August 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2016 Are there other sites that have a broad variety of insects? or more beetle selections? I always keep an eye on bugs in cyber space and ken the bug guy. I just notice a lot of people stick to one or two nitches, I love looking at a for sale list with variety haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenevanica Posted August 12, 2016 Report Share Posted August 12, 2016 Are there other sites that have a broad variety of insects? or more beetle selections? I always keep an eye on bugs in cyber space and ken the bug guy. I just notice a lot of people stick to one or two nitches, I love looking at a for sale list with variety haha Bugsincyberspace has the largest collection of beetles in the US. He's the most diverse seller of insects here. I don't know of any USA based sites that have a selection even remotely comparable to the selection of bugsincyberspace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KICritters Posted August 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 12, 2016 Makes sense, I love their selection. I've missed dung beetles and d. tityus multiple times on the site, I'm trying to keep a closer eye on availability Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted August 13, 2016 Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 Lucanus elaphus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hisserdude Posted August 13, 2016 Report Share Posted August 13, 2016 Tenebs all the way, so much diversity and many of them are easy to breed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewrune Posted August 14, 2016 Report Share Posted August 14, 2016 I like rhinoceros beetles (Dynastinae) and stag beetles (Lucanidae), I breed them every year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 What species? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KICritters Posted August 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 Lucanus elaphus. Do you collect them yourself? I know they range in Texas but I've never seen any Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pewrune Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 It depends. My parents are in Taiwan, where beetles are easier to obtain . So when I was little, I try different stuff every year. I started with local Allomyrina dichotoma and Dorcus titanus sika. Soon after, I want to challenge some bigger species, including CCC, DHL, MA, DN. DN wasn't successful (I think its the temperature, I had no clue that's a thing), CCC were all short horns DHL got to 120mm MA got to 105mm So I continued to breed the DHL and MA because they were more successful. both of them lasted 3 generation. I think because they were breeding with their siblings and caused a higher chance of death rate. Then I started to pay more attention to stags and tried a few Dorcus titanus, Prospocolius, and Odontolabis species that are not native to Taiwan. After I got to college, I went back to Taiwanese species again. Then I started working, had to travel to Bangladesh, China, and now USA, tried breeding some local species in each country. there were about 2 years where I only collected the adults, because I know ill be moving again and wont be able to wait for the larvae to grow up and to emerge. Anyways, now I have D. tityus, and L. elaphus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted August 15, 2016 Report Share Posted August 15, 2016 Do you collect them yourself? I know they range in Texas but I've never seen any I've had them in the past. It depends. My parents are in Taiwan, where beetles are easier to obtain . So when I was little, I try different stuff every year. I started with local Allomyrina dichotoma and Dorcus titanus sika. Soon after, I want to challenge some bigger species, including CCC, DHL, MA, DN. DN wasn't successful (I think its the temperature, I had no clue that's a thing), CCC were all short horns DHL got to 120mm MA got to 105mm So I continued to breed the DHL and MA because they were more successful. both of them lasted 3 generation. I think because they were breeding with their siblings and caused a higher chance of death rate. Then I started to pay more attention to stags and tried a few Dorcus titanus, Prospocolius, and Odontolabis species that are not native to Taiwan. After I got to college, I went back to Taiwanese species again. Then I started working, had to travel to Bangladesh, China, and now USA, tried breeding some local species in each country. there were about 2 years where I only collected the adults, because I know ill be moving again and wont be able to wait for the larvae to grow up and to emerge. Anyways, now I have D. tityus, and L. elaphus. Nice man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salmonsaladsandwich Posted August 18, 2016 Report Share Posted August 18, 2016 My favorite beetles to keep are Calasoma caterpillar hunters. I've only kept 2 but they were definitely my favorite- relatively large, active, colorful and voracious eaters. 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.