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- 1,079
- Location
- Mt Barker South Australia
I bought 8 of these beetles from a friend on the weekend, they'll be here tomorrow if there's no delays.
They're a type of Darkling Beetle so care should be pretty easy.
I could set them up the same as mealworms I think, even use them as mealworms for feeding but I think I'll go with a more natural set-up.
From what I've read the majority of species occur in arid environments but these have been collected in a mesic area so I'll use a coco peat based substrate rather than sand.
I've read that it's a good idea to mix leaf litter and decaying wood through the substrate, but also that the worms will eat food placed on the surface. If I do mix leaf litter in substrate I think I'll keep it to one corner. I'm pretty sure it'll mould if there's much moisture so I'll keep it to one area. I'm pretty sure putting carrots and other fruit and veg directly onto the substrate in combination with a leaf litter and area would be fine for raising what are essentially mealworms.
Photos to come, but here's the photo from the advert. Credits to Michael Radley (I'm guessing)
Updates to follow!
They're a type of Darkling Beetle so care should be pretty easy.
I could set them up the same as mealworms I think, even use them as mealworms for feeding but I think I'll go with a more natural set-up.
From what I've read the majority of species occur in arid environments but these have been collected in a mesic area so I'll use a coco peat based substrate rather than sand.
I've read that it's a good idea to mix leaf litter and decaying wood through the substrate, but also that the worms will eat food placed on the surface. If I do mix leaf litter in substrate I think I'll keep it to one corner. I'm pretty sure it'll mould if there's much moisture so I'll keep it to one area. I'm pretty sure putting carrots and other fruit and veg directly onto the substrate in combination with a leaf litter and area would be fine for raising what are essentially mealworms.
Photos to come, but here's the photo from the advert. Credits to Michael Radley (I'm guessing)
Updates to follow!
is this species of the cockroach family? only ask as the obvious similarity in body type but also as you describe the care,housing and substrate all sound the same as you would keep some cockroaches ?
