Jonathan2608 Posted September 23, 2022 Report Share Posted September 23, 2022 I’m very new to the beetle hobby and I recently bought some larvae. I had to tube ready but I added some seeds which are seedlings at the moment and I don’t know if the roots would be toxic. The substrate is peat moss and the plants consist of crimson clover, baby’s breath, cornflower, calendula, nasturtium, lupine, marigold, butterfly weed, plains coreopsis, cosmos, foxglove, California poppy, Indian blanket, dwarf sunflower, sweet alyssum, Black-eyed Susan, scarlet sage, zinnia(one of those hummingbird seed packs), and two kalanchoe plants. I can make a new enclosure but if there is nothing to worry about I prefer the one I have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes Posted September 24, 2022 Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 If the substrate is peat moss the larvae may starve anyway. I have always been curious if any plants with poisons could be eaten unknowingly but since they don't eat live roots it wouldn't matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan2608 Posted September 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 So pest moss really doesn’t work. What beetle substrate would you recommend. I ordered 1/2 gallon of flake soil but I want get something bigger. Also where could I find rotten wood. Is there a website that sells it or do most people just collect from a local forest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan2608 Posted September 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 On 9/23/2022 at 10:10 PM, Jonathan2608 said: So pest moss really doesn’t work. What beetle substrate would you recommend. I ordered 1/2 gallon of flake soil but I want get something bigger. Also where could I find rotten wood. Is there a website that sells it or do most people just collect from a local forest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynastes Posted September 24, 2022 Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 On 9/23/2022 at 10:10 PM, Jonathan2608 said: So pest moss really doesn’t work. What beetle substrate would you recommend. I ordered 1/2 gallon of flake soil but I want get something bigger. Also where could I find rotten wood. Is there a website that sells it or do most people just collect from a local forest. Peat moss mixed in won't hurt anything but same as if you mix it in your food. A lot of people grind up dead leaves into a substrate for flower beetles, composts from local garden centers often can work too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JunkaiWangisme Posted September 24, 2022 Report Share Posted September 24, 2022 On 9/23/2022 at 10:10 PM, Jonathan2608 said: So pest moss really doesn’t work. What beetle substrate would you recommend. I ordered 1/2 gallon of flake soil but I want get something bigger. Also where could I find rotten wood. Is there a website that sells it or do most people just collect from a local forest. if u have metalifer in anything with peat it's gonna die... Just buy more flake soil. People either make or buy flake soil in the US. You can get it off insectbrothers.com, davidsbeetles.com and many other sites. I'm sure your vender will help you with basic larvae care too, but Orin McMonigle also have a very good book detailing beetle care, that helped me start in the hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan2608 Posted September 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2022 On 9/24/2022 at 4:50 PM, JunkaiWangisme said: if u have metalifer in anything with peat it's gonna die... Just buy more flake soil. People either make or buy flake soil in the US. You can get it off insectbrothers.com, davidsbeetles.com and many other sites. I'm sure your vender will help you with basic larvae care too, but Orin McMonigle also have a very good book detailing beetle care, that helped me start in the hobby. There is flake soul in the peat moss. Both larvae came with two weeks worth of flake soil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratmosphere Posted September 28, 2022 Report Share Posted September 28, 2022 I would just go all out and buy pure flake soil, you don't want to be mixing peat with certain species. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan2608 Posted September 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2022 I ordered a half a gallon of flake soil so I’ll switch it out when it arrives. Question is 16 oz. to small of a container. I do have some 6 x 6 x 6 enclosures I could use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan2608 Posted October 21, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2022 My larvae for c metallifer pupated and I got the most minor male imaginable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan2608 Posted October 23, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2022 On 10/21/2022 at 4:49 PM, Jonathan2608 said: My larvae for c metallifer pupated and I got the most minor male imaginable Actually I think I was looking at the female pupae Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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