BLUE DEATH FEIGNING BEETLE CARE GUIDE

BLUE DEATH FEIGNING BEETLE CARE GUIDE

Choosing an enclosure:

• We recommend at least 1 gallon per 2 beetles for enclosure size. Width is more important than height.
• They cannot fly or climb smooth surfaces.
• Enclosures should include 1-4 inches of sandy substrate.
• We use one layer of sand and worm castings, and one layer of sand.
• Include rough surfaced items (rocks, cork bark, cholla wood) for the beetles to hide in and climb on.

Lighting/Temperature:

• While beetles don’t require specific UV lighting, they do best in bright lighting on a normal daytime schedule.
• Day temperatures can range between 75-95° F (23.9-35°C) though they will be most active when kept between 80-85 (26.7-29.4°C). Temperatures should drop at night to mimic natural conditions, but not below 50°F (10°C).
• Heat lamps come in a variety of sizes and are effective in providing stable warmth when on a thermostat. Any heat sources should be placed at one end of the enclosure to provide warm and cool options.

Cleaning their enclosure:

• Clean out old food and waste as needed.
• Substrate can be changed once or twice a year if needed.

Feeding your beetles:

• Blue Death Feigning Beetles are scavengers and will feed on a wide variety of plant and animal matter in the wild.
• It is recommended to keep their diet lower in sugar and higher in protein.
• All foods should be organic to avoid pesticides. Fruits and vegetables should be washed and peeled prior to feeding.  Pesticide exposure can be fatal.
• Rotate out food items several times per week to vary nutrition and provide a source of hydration.
• Suggested food options include but are not limited to:
• Pre-made beetle foods.
• Seeds: Sunflower seeds and other unsalted, unroasted seeds.
• Produce, Roots, and Similar: Cactus, cactus fruit, lichens, mushrooms.
• Avoid pesticides and fertilizers by purchasing organic produce.
• While fruits and vegetables are readily accepted, it is best to feed high sugar fruits and root vegetables as occasional treats rather than every day food items.
• Protein: Bee pollen and fresh killed insects such as crickets, super worms, meal worms, roaches, black soldier fly larva, and more.
• Other: Invertebrate gel mixes, low sugar agar-based beetle jelly.

Humidity and hydration:

• Blue death feigning beetles are adapted to a low humidity climate.
• They get most hydration from their food.
• Keeping a water dish may be a hazard due to their poor ability to swim, however using a shallow water dish with small pebbles is an acceptable water source.
• Once weekly misting a small portion of their enclosure to provide additional water is recommended.
• Their enclosure should be kept dry with under about 20% relative humidity. A hygrometer, or humidity gauge, is an easy and inexpensive way to read the humidity.
• Increasing ventilation can help lower humidity if needed.
• Blue death feigning beetles that are wet or are kept in more humid conditions will be darker or black temporarily until conditions are drier.

LifeSpan:

• Typical life span for a captive Blue Death Feigning Beetle can be up to 8 years.

Female reproduction:

• Blue death feigning beetles will mate if housed with opposite genders however, this species requires very specific conditions to actually lay eggs for successful reproduction.
• Generally, these beetles will not successfully reproduce in normal conditions.

QUESTIONS:

ALWAYS feel free to reach out to us with questions and concerns.



We love our beetles and want them to have the best possible life with you. 😊

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Email:

orionshouseofjumpers@gmail.com

Text: 301-991-9809

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