Darkling Beetle

[Superior]

I just found 2 beetles in my pupae box. I seperated the beetles, and im not getting rid of them yet as im unsure if I will breed mealworms or not. Just to keep them alive until the others turn to beetles and if i decide to breed them, what do they eat? and what temperature is good for breeding? Also, the 2 I have already are always on their backs...?

 

[acpart]

Put them in the same bedding you use for mealworms. I think they'll breed better at warmer temps, but mine are fine at room temp. They often seem to be on their backs and will be less likely to be that way if they are in bedding (powdered grain gutload) with some veggie scraps for moisture.

Aliza

 

[laurlaur12]

mine are often on heir backs too. i usually flip then when i chnge their veggies. the next day, the stupid things are usually on their backs again. som creatures never learn

 

[cwazy]

mine seem to do fine at room temp... i had them on powder... *same as my mealies* but someone said the beetles prefer to have non-powder... so i crunched up some branflakes, not to powder just smaller than flakes, mixed with some oats, also put a small layer of powder on the bottom of that so the hopefull baby mealies have a place to go... i dunno how well this works as i just switched over... but i had the beetles in the powdered mix for a while and i cant seem to find any life in there... so i switched... as far as the beetles on there backs... thats how they are when they complete the pupae stage... they usally can flip over though.... i always give mine a helping hand... they seem to stay off there backs when they have plenty to crawl around on and in and threw... i give mine carrots for moisture and they devour it! as far as eating... they will eat the bedding...

*ponders*

it seems i have read somewheres that warmer temps will trigger more breeding... or maybe it was kicking them into pupae stage... or maybe both... HHMMMmmmmMMmm...? okay, ill just shush... im sleepy *yawn*


oh wait... one other thing... the darkening... comes with age... they start off almost like an ivory whiteish color, with in a day or 2 will go to brown, then shortly after that will go to black....... kind of like the reverse of the human hair...

 

[Snowy & Petra de Gecko]

Same Stuff

The beetles will eat the same stuff. I guess you could put more chunky stuff in but, I dunno.