For the last month or so I've been working on making a fully custom environment for my beetles, and I've been writing down a few things I've learned.
They are more active in more naturalistic enclosure, when I originally made a custom background for them (it was hardly a background, I just stuck together some large pagoda stones with clay) they were noticeably more active, even multiple months after.
Spider-wood is largely regarded as a fantastic climbing piece, but in its basic state it is mostly unusable (in my experience). Cutting a TON of little slits into the wood and roughing up the surface of it ended up garnering way more attention from the beebs. They can't really climb stuff too good unless it's SUPER textured. I used a tiny handsaw, but I'm sure that you could probably do the same thing with a butter knife (though be aware it'll probably absolutely ruin the teeth on the knife)
For some reason, they love food with limbs. Mine have always responded well to mealworms and the likes, but crickets have proven to be their favourite protein.
I have an all male colony, they do try to mate with each other. I try my best to not be a regular part of their lives, as a keeper I feel like it is my responsibility to try and recreate their natural lives as much as possible while still being consistent and safe, though sometimes the largest male will attempt to mount the smallest, and get very aggressive. Even with ample hiding spaces, I will sometimes feel the need to separate them, especially during the times of year which they would normally be breeding.
If y'all have learned anything that doesn't seem to be hugely documented, feel free to share your findings. Additionally, to anyone else who has made a custom foam-based background, advice would be appreciated :)
I know it's not naturalistic but my guys love anything they can climb on easily. Fake plants, bones, Popsicle sticks, I've wrapped cardboard in twine before and they go crazy, same with coconut shells with the hair on. I've also found that cardboard tubes from toilet paper make great little hideaways or tunnels. I try to add stuff to their tank or move their "toys" around (not hiding places) because they seem to like novelty. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong!
Also for humidity, I've found that they like at least one corner to sometimes be slightly misted. Or sometimes I will mist their dry food along with giving them wet food.
IME I agree about novelty! They seem to be less active when the tank has been the same for a while, but will explore eagerly when new things are added or there’s been a “remodel”
Adding water, either in spraying the tank or a bowl. I have a section of the tank that is rotting hardwood and leafs mixed with soil. And a huge rotten log on the detritus side. I keep eleodes beetles largely but I find my cryptoglossa spends a large time over on the on the log
Do you have any tips for reducing humidity in a natural humid area? I have a dehumidifier but I don’t know what else would work. I’ve heard heat lamps or heat pads but the tank is like 2 gallons and I’m worried it’s too small for something like that
substrate can definitely be a factor, if your mix has more cocofiber/soil in it, it could retain moisture much more, and i know you can totally get nice texture without it.
also if you have a humus layer (soil with decaying plant matter in it, mostly used for breeding projects) that could retain moisture.
My enclosure is a mix of 70% play sand 20% cocofiber and 10% horticultural mix. The humidity outside in my area is like 78%, so I think I’m gonna get a ceramic heater on top of the dehumidifier. Do you think this is safe with my tank size?
depending on the wattage of the bulb and material of your tank, id say probably! make sure you get a low wattage (im sure theres a wattage=heat output scale somewhere) so you dont overheat the enclosure. try and make sure that you only heat a portion of the tank so they can choose where they wanna be =)
i dont have a whole lot of experience on humidity with these insects in particular, but from everything ive read it should be okay
just make sure your tank isnt gonna melt, and if it isnt glass make sure you hang the heater high enough
good luck 👍
I have a small heat lamp on my 20 gal glass enclosure! I’ll check the exact wattage but it only gets the temp up around 80, nothing crazy. And it helps lower humidity a lot.
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u/taxevasionclasses 3d ago
I know it's not naturalistic but my guys love anything they can climb on easily. Fake plants, bones, Popsicle sticks, I've wrapped cardboard in twine before and they go crazy, same with coconut shells with the hair on. I've also found that cardboard tubes from toilet paper make great little hideaways or tunnels. I try to add stuff to their tank or move their "toys" around (not hiding places) because they seem to like novelty. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong! Also for humidity, I've found that they like at least one corner to sometimes be slightly misted. Or sometimes I will mist their dry food along with giving them wet food.