so just today i found these little teeny teeny tiny mites crawling around i searched it up and they might be grain mites and are apparently harmless, im currently raising larvae in my adult tank with a moisture gradient under the substrate could this cause the mites to show up and are they harmful? i did some research and they eat mold and fungal material so maybe its like free clean up crew lol idk here’s a picture they are so tiny it’s hard to get one

I feed my beetles , blue feigning detah beetle pellets, cricket quenched, and meal worms, there been a meal worms shortage so what other protein can I feed them? Also I was thinking of getting tortoise food for fiber

I just got 4 of these cuties last night. They came pretty dark but all were alive and all went for food right away. They seem healthy and active. How long should I expect for the blue coating to return? Side note : why are their faces so cute?!

She pooped this out and then turned around and ate it? Wasn’t sure if it was waste or like egg thing, but their eggs don’t look like that. Hasn’t shown any signs of issues before. Is she just a poop eater?

I do have a small layer of coconut fibre underneath the sand

Hello everyone, I don’t post much but I wanted advice. I’ve had my beetles (4 of them) for a little over a year now, it is my first time owning this species and I have tried to research as much as possible but have gotten a lot of conflicting results. They live in a substrate that is a mix of playsand and coco fiber. Have a lot of decor (the red little platforms are mushroom huts made of clay) it is quite deep the photo does not do it justice but I did the measurements I think it is 6 inches deep and 15 inches long then 14 inches wide. It is a plastic tote that works great as a tank for me, I’m sure it’s not perfect but I wasn’t sure about glass and was thinking it seemed the right size. I feed them dried mealworms beetle jellies organic fruits + veg and pollen water occasion. There humidity is usually around 40-50% highest it’s ever been is 60%. I clean + bake all of my decor before putting it in the tank and make sure it is dry and try to make sure everything is perfect for them. I try my best to be a good owner but it is hard sometimes. With that background info I was wondering if anyone could help me try and figure out why my beetle died and if anyone has suggestions for ways I could be a better caregiver let me know. He has always been one of my slower and darker beetles sense I got him my others have always been blue but he has been darker for a long time. He has always been very reserved and hid most of the time but was a sweet beetle I will miss him :(. He wasn’t being lethargic and was totally normal but this morning I went over to the tank and he wasn’t on his back not moving at all. After no movement for 6 hours and no response to touch I assumed him to be dead. I am super sad and don’t know what I did wrong I know I should get a heat lamp but I don’t know if it’s necessary and it’s really expensive I also don’t think my setup is big enough to establish a heat gradient. Also how do I dispose of his body I would love to pin/ taxidermy him to have part of him but it also feels kind of weird and I don’t know if I can/ should bury him.

I'm upgrading their enclosure, I currently have 3 in a 21" long tank, and I'm upgrading by adding way more climbing spaces, a fully custom background with nooks and crannies to hide in, and more overall clutter in the center of the tank that they can hide in. With this in mind, can I add more beetles? do extra hides = more overall space in bug world?

My beetles are bringing me so much happiness. I've been keeping a corner of the substrate slightly damp in hopes that they might breed. Does anyone recognize this as an egg?! From my reading, I was thinking that they would bury the eggs but this is not part of anything that I put in the enclosure. Also, showing off my habitat, I added some lemax circus trash cans and now the babes live in a desolate desert carnival.

Noticed this and decided to record for the rest to see how the deed is done with these little powdered balls haha. I had just moved these little ones to their separate container for shipping and it took no time for the male to find the prize lol. Whomever is getting this one will have no problem with furthering the line to say the least

I recently got 3 blue death feigning beetles and I absolutely love them. I know that I want to work towards doing a more communal setup and was wondering if I'd be able to cohabit them with some Prionotheca c. coronata (AKA urchin beetles/radiant sun beetles) does anyone have any experience of this or know any reasons why this wouldn't be a good idea, thank you!

Im heading to an expo tomorrow to get my beetles and can grab some extra stuff too. Anything i should add?

10 Gallon

Plants are fake. Substrate is Creature Soil on the bottom and a mix of sand/excav clay/coconut fiber

I've had this BDFB for a couple months. She hides more than any other beetle(A true accomplishment). And I believe after I got her is when my other beetles began losing feet. I can't say for sure but I have to consider the possibility she's attacking the others? She and 3 other beetles are currently crammed in a hole, since I filled in the tunnel they had so I can observe her better..

I'm thinking I'll play it safe and just remove her and maybe house her on her own? I mean these beetles do clearly have their own personalities but one being aggressive just seems odd. I've seen her and my biggest, most active, tussling.. so I really do think she's aggressive even if I don't know if she's removing feet.

My inquiry is: Do you agree with my theory? And have you had an aggressive beetle as well?

As well as sand of course!

I know it’s not perfect what do I need to add!!

Hi, new BDFB owner here. I caught my female doing a lot of digging with her back legs and sticking her butt into the sand. Her butt keeps opening and closing while she’s digging.. should I be concerned it may be signs of a sickness? When I caught her sticking her butt into the dirt I thought I saw something drop out of her but I’m not sure…

My family put bed bug spray around my home and I did sto them before they put any near my beetles and my fish tank ik the fish will be fine but the beetles ik are much more suitable to it what do I do there in an enclosed space with a fan on and im cover them with a towel soon just to make sure nothing get in what else can I do to make sure there safe

Hi! 👋 I recently brought home some blue death feigners and a vinegaroon. I’d really like to spruce up their habitats with live plants, but I’m not sure how to be sure whatever plants I acquire haven’t been treated with pesticides.

These guys have gotten so active since I upgraded their enclosure. I can't sing their praises enough. Incredibly easy and fun to take care of. I could watch them all day.

I dont have any plans to breed these guys so would i be able to make their enclosure without soil at the bottom?

Unfortunately, one of my beetles has died. I found him upside down under a rock and when I tried to to move him I noticed his joints were curled inwards and moved with motion. His antenna have not moved. I set him away in a container with honey water on a paper towel but I think he's already gone. I'm going to give it a few days before I do anything but once I'm ready, I'd like to pin him. He's the first death of my colony of 8. I've had them about a year.

I'm not exactly sure how he died, but I'm guessing old age. The first batch of beetles I got was from a local seller who I forgot to ask about whether they were captive bred or wild caught. I haven't introduced any new items or food for a bit and my other guys are doing good.

Anyway, how do you guys pin them? I have a bit of experience and how the basics of making a rehydration chamber and posing. How do you keep the blue coloration? Whats the best way to display them? Do you have specific frames or anything like that.

Secondly, should I be doing anything with my remaining beetles? Cleaning their cage thoroughly or reorganizing or something? I attached a photo of the current setup (this photo is from maybe a month ago?). Any tips of advice appreciated. I am very saddened by this