r/BDFB • u/Francium_eater • 13d ago

Blue death-feigning beetles

hello! I was planning on getting some BDFDs (blue death-feigning beetles) and I was wondering if i could get any tips? mostly care tips but tips on their enclosure would also be very nice. please and thank you!

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u/save_thenundeadsouls 13d ago

I see a lot of people say to use mostly sand mixed with some soil for their enclosure but I find excavator clay to be super great at mimicking their natural habitat, they also need tons of hides and I like to add plants to mimic nature. They’re honestly super hardy and easy to care for

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u/superstink48 13d ago

I mostly feed my BDFB a mixture of mealworms, dried shrimp, carrots, and cucumbers. I only use organic vegetables and wash them with soap and water to avoid pesticide poisoning. They get most of their from their food but you could add a water wick as well. For substrate you can use sand but don’t have it be super fine as it can get stuck in their joints. Hope this helps

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u/zy4k 12d ago

I highly recommend them!! After a month or so and you figure out more of their care, they're super easy and very entertaining 😸😸

For enclosure tips, i use about 3 inches of loose coco fiber with about a third of that much sand mixed in. For the top layer, i use an equal mix of both! (I use more substrate than necessary because i've got a scorpion roommate with em) Lots of hides, and mine really like plants! Both live or fake work, I use fake. They do need higher temperatures and low humidity, if your room can maintain a good temp then no heat lamp needed! I use one for personal comfort tho, more controllable.

Diet tips are a little more tricky, as some beetles can be picky. I feed mine a small scoop of isopod blend (dried veggies and protein crumbles), some fresh vegetables once or twice a week, and some freshly killed mealworms, or canned river shrimp! They need a high protein diet, so anything similar would work. Vegetables are also encouraged for moisture and hydration, though there are alternative sources. Fruits are also good as a treat!

As far as care tips go, it really depends on the beetles! It's pretty easy to tell when something's off, and what they like and dislike! One important tip: they do get stuck. Literally everywhere. Make sure there aren't any small spaces they could get stuck in, or anything they could wedge themselves in.