Breeding Blue Death-Feigning Beetles Update: An Adult Beetle Has Emerged!

[@bugsincyberspace]

You are now the third person I've talked to aside Orin and Dr. Dean Rider who has reproduced them and nobody has laid out the process in such easy to follow steps as your videos have. These beetles are super popular and I'll be mentioning your playlist to people for years to come. Congratulations, Rus, and the beetle hobby took a huge step forward thanks to you on 7-24-2020! Is your new baby a girl or a boy? 💙

[@Aquarimax]

Bugs In Cyberspace Thank you so much, Peter! I have you to thank for introducing me to these beetles to me, and for instilling in me a fascination for them, in addition to all the support you have provided throughout this breeding project! I haven’t checked the antennae with a macro lens yet, but will do so soon. 👍

[@bugsincyberspace]

@@Aquarimax How many more buns you have in the oven there? I believe the first one that Orin produced came out with a funky elytron. It will be interesting to see if yours doesn't blue-up. I propose the name Proteus and now you are challenged to produce a mate for it and then definitively captive-bred offspring from captive-produced parents! Not sure anybody has done that.

[@Aquarimax]

Bugs In Cyberspace I’ve got at least 2 or so in the incubator (if they’re viable), one largish larva in growout, and 9 smaller larvae I pulled out of the breeding tank the day the beetle emerged, and probably dozens of larvae in with the adults. I think Proteus is an excellent name on more than one level...Proteus it is! I heard the Cincinnati zoo’s specimen had an issue with the elytrae as well...it looks like mine has a slight bluish tinge now...still darker than the others. I wonder if they need to eat for a while to collect the raw material to create the wax? I saw the beetle nibbling on a cricket. I think you’re right..the challenge now is to produce F2s!

[@RachelGratis]

Not to hijack, but I was wondering if either of you were aware of any safe way to tag or mark individuals for tracking? It would be interesting to track new beetles for lifespan, but they just blend in with the colony once they get their coating.

[@Aquarimax]

Rachel Gratis I have been pondering this. Beetles often vary slightly in body shape, size, etc. I am hoping to be able to take some detailed photos that will allow me to distinguish this beetle from the others.

[@TemperateTanks]

ok time to wait 20 years to see how long they actually live for

[@Aquarimax]

LOL! Let’s hope this one lives that long! 🤣👍

[@fen4538]

YESSSSS YOU DID IT!!!! Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! Do you think someone would be able to breed them on a larger scale to sell them? If so, this is another step towards lessening the pet trade's impact on the environment! Please keep us updated on anything you can find out, like if they start out dark and then become lighter, and of course their lifespan! Again, congrats on your success! 😀

[@Aquarimax]

Mia Blackmon Thank you!! I don’t know if it will ever be practical to breed them commercially, but i do think hobbyists can produce more captive-bred individuals, and that is a step in the right direction. I will definitely keep you all updated! 👍

[@HouseOfBugs]

Congrats this is a huge success

[@Aquarimax]

House Of Bugs I appreciate it! 😊

[@HouseOfBugs]

@@Aquarimax hopefully we in europe can use this to have the same success and help stop all the wild caught imports now :) thank you

[@Aquarimax]

You’re welcome! Exactly! I am hoping many more hobbyists will start breeding these. 👍

[@HouseOfBugs]

@@Aquarimax Hi just to rejack an old topic how many adults have you pupated now doing this method?

[@Aquarimax]

@@HouseOfBugs I’ve got a couple in the incubator now. I am well raking on the best larval production and growout techniques,

[@newtscamander7713]

YES!!! Congratulations, Rus!!

[@Aquarimax]

Newt Scamander Thank you! This is one Fantastic little Beast, Newt!

[@brianaschoner3476]

Why is this not a bigger deal? Why did I have to stumble upon this?? Congratulations!!! I love my beetles and now I'm going to use your method to try to get them going.

[@BREAKERisDEAD]

Congrats on your new baby papa Russ!

[@Aquarimax]

Breaker I really appreciate that!! 😊👍

[@BREAKERisDEAD]

@@Aquarimax Im really interested in its lifespan. I know that could take a very long time to gauge and I hope its a looong time!

[@Aquarimax]

Breaker well, we know it could be in excess of 17 years...let’s shoot for 20!

[@RachelGratis]

Congratulations! I am a few weeks away from rooting around and looking for pupae. So far in my enclosure this year I have at least three large larvae. One surfaced and died, but two are still burrowing about.

[@Aquarimax]

Rachel Gratis I hope you can get yours to pupate! 👍

[@RachelGratis]

@@Aquarimax So, update on this, I dug around in the humid substrate of my enclosure on Aug 1 looking for pupae and found only larvae, which I put into incubator containers. Today, I look in and see a very dark and dirty one, so I pull everything up and count, and sure enough, it's a new beetle adult. Gaaahh. I believe it was in the more sand/clay based substrate. Dug up everything today and found no pupa but some more big larvae. So now I have six in the incubator... One of these days, I'm going to photograph a pupa!

[@Aquarimax]

Rachel Gratis So, just to clarify, you put a larvae in a week ago, and now it is an adult?!

[@RachelGratis]

@@Aquarimax No, the larvae in the incubator are still larvae. This adult emerged in the breeding enclosure itself, so apparently a larva pupated in there and I did not find it, haha.

[@RachelGratis]

@@Aquarimax It was my goal to create a naturalistic habitat that could successfully complete the life cycle, so technically I hit my goal last year, but I really want to be able to provide photographic proof of the pupal stage.

[@Danimalsfan]

Such a good look for the future of bdfbs!!!!

[@h3llbab394]

I just discovered death feigning beetles and they are amazing. I had no idea that they were so hard to breed and raise in captivity and I have loved both of your videos, for the information and for how excited you are to be working with these beetles. That excitement is contagious and I'm now planning how best to start my own. Thank you so much for sharing this and I hope for your continuing success with these awesome beetles!

[@melissasyard1212]

That's so exciting! Congratulations!

[@AlbertWiskerz]

You did it! Congrats on your new adult beetle!

[@Aquarimax]

Moombuhs Thank you!! It was so long in coming!

[@naturezone1212]

Wow! You can say you where one of the only hobbyists to ever pupate these beatles! Congrats 👍

[@Aquarimax]

Forest Oasis Thank you! I hope many more people will have success with them soon. 👍

[@snitchbug]

very exciting news!

[@Aquarimax]

I’m still giddy!

[@imaybestupid2045]

YO FINALLLY!

[@Aquarimax]

Yes!! 🤣👍

[@cs4870]

Congratulations Rus!!! That's fantastic!

[@Aquarimax]

I am still amazed by it!! 🤣👍

[@GailsRedDollhouse]

This is sooooooooo exciting!!!!!!!!!!

[@Aquarimax]

Gail Bell Yes!!! Thank you!! 👍

[@eclipsethesky9499]

congrats man

[@Aquarimax]

Michael Modifica Thank you!! 😊👍

[@doxtorbork5567]

squee!!! Congrats! This is so cool

[@Aquarimax]

Doxtor Bork Thank you! I am so excited!!

[@ProgressiveDiscussions]

Congratulations this is wonderful news.

[@colehelderman2755]

this is awesome! I was just watching through the rest of your bdfb series

[@Aquarimax]

Cole Helderman Awesome! 😊👍

[@RooRoove]

Very nice! I have one male and one female. I've seen them actively mating, but I have made absolutely no efforts to breed them.

[@Aquarimax]

You may well be getting eggs and even larvae then! The larvae will dry out if they don’t have a moist area in the substrate, so they breed for many people under the radar, so to speak. The biggest hurdle is in getting the larvae to pupate successfully.

[@themantisgarden]

I know I'm late to the party, but a great little documented project. I'm seriously considering doing this myself as these guys are expensive over here (£16 each!), and I think they're mostly wild caught (which I don't really approve of). I, of course, concentrate on mantis as the beetle hobby here isn't as popular (probably due to the expense) but I really would like to do this so that I can offer cheaper beetles! Thank you for the video(s), really, really cool project Rus.

[@Aquarimax]

Let me know how the breeding project goes!

[@themantisgarden]

@@Aquarimax Will do, mate. Still not got around to getting any yet haha - Next show manybe!

[@igris6128]

Congratulations!

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you! I am glad it finally worked!

[@alexanderhowell-holmes2630]

Awesome!!!!

[@Aquarimax]

Licinius Howell-Holmes Thank you! I am so excited!

[@oatiesplushery6803]

Congratulations! This is wonderful news! 🎉

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you! I can hardly contain my excitement!

[@roachant]

Congratulations Rus! One step closer to having captive bred beetles for sale!

[@Aquarimax]

Roach Ant Yes!! Thank you!!

[@liaanscrittercorner1753]

Just got directed to your channel by @Colin Barsby . I love your channel, greetings from a fellow critter keeper in South Africa 🇿🇦

[@Aquarimax]

Welcome!! Thanks for coming! Colin is great, I enjoy his content too.

[@danielleb.7055]

This is absolutely amazing! Congrats!

[@Aquarimax]

Danielle B. Thank you!!

[@Elaine_P_Smith]

Congratulations on breeding beetles. I sure hope that the beetle gets it's proper color.

[@schizox]

Congrats!

[@Aquarimax]

schizox Thank you! 😊👍

[@kody_dryden-conway]

Congratulations 👏 this is really exciting I've really enjoyed watching this hole series

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you!! I really appreciate you watching the whole process! 👍

[@barbhelle5481]

Congratulations Russ.

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you Barb!

[@SupremeGecko]

Absolutely huge congrats Rus. What an accomplishment!

[@Aquarimax]

Supreme Gecko Thank you Wally! I have appreciated your support all along the way!! 👍

[@SupremeGecko]

@@Aquarimax Of course

[@alaimrodriguez5736]

Congrats!!

[@Aquarimax]

Alaim Rodriguez Thank you!!😊👍

[@bluebowser3121]

I knew you would succeed! This is amazing, well done!

[@Aquarimax]

Blue Bowser I appreciate your confidence in me, and your support!!

[@Hawkeladye]

Congratulations! This is a major achievement!

[@Aquarimax]

Hawkeladye Thank you! I can still hardly believe it actually happened!

[@jadenpeterson4881]

That is awesome! I have been keeping my substrate damp in one corner and i have seen egg laying activity. Hope I have your success. Also, where is the link or info for the improved substrate? My enclosure is currently just coir and sand. And do you recommend this mixture for the deli cups only or the enclosure as well?

[@Aquarimax]

Jaden Peterson thank you! The link is in the card, it points to The BICS video. I have improved the substrate in the laying enclosure as well as the rearing cups. 👍

[@jenanigans6791]

Congratulations!! 👏👏👏👏 Such a difficult thing to accomplish!

[@Aquarimax]

DriedandTied Thank you! So far, the little beetle is doing well, eating a lot and starting to turn blue!

[@molderman7673]

It’s about a week into my breeding project and all is going well but I have a few questions. How often do you mist the egg laying side in the beetle enclosure? How do you look for the larvae do you just go in there with your bare hands and turn off all of the soil or do you gently brush it around and select all of the larvae? This channel has been my biggest help so thank you Russ!

[@Aquarimax]

I have usually just dug around in the enclosure. Glad to hear it is going well so far!

[@Gongopod5]

Really cool beetles you got there! Thanks to your pet arthropod videos I am making a setup for horrid king assassin bugs in my home

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you! 8’s like to see your assassin setup!

[@garymcintyre1498]

Well done russ

[@Aquarimax]

Gary Mcintyre Thank you!! 😊👍

[@garymcintyre1498]

@@Aquarimax hey rus iv found some pods in the great Scottish countryside, i have about 20 of them I cant find them on the isopod charts , so if you could send me a email address I will send pictures , thanks rus

[@Aquarimax]

Gary Mcintyre you can email me here: www.aquarimax.com/contact/ If it doesn’t work the first time, just reload the page 👍

[@InvertebrateDude]

Congrats, glad to see one matured, hopefully more are on the way! 😄

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you! I’m checking the incubator every day, and have nine larvae was n growout. 👍

[@InvertebrateDude]

@@Aquarimax Sweet, hope they keep on maturing! 😄

[@Aquarimax]

Invertebrate Dude Thanks! So far, so good! 🤞🤞🤞

[@christinajacobs1329]

This is so great, thank you! I have a female and I love her so much! I am hoping to get her some tankmates this spring when I am able to visit the area I got her from again (would have been sooner if not for Covid) and maybe try breeding them, as well.

[@kenjiro2676]

Congratulations! 🍾🎉

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you!! So exciting!!!

[@TheDarknessInside44]

Congrats Rus!!! 🌟

[@Aquarimax]

ChristinaB Thank you! I am so happy it finally happened! 👍

[@tellorcha]

Dude, this is just awesome! So glad you succeeded, congratulations!

[@Aquarimax]

Estella De Grande I appreciate that, thank you so much!

[@annemontesi8468]

Does anyone know how long they need to be in the incubator. Mine have been in for three months...not sure if the larvae have died . I’m afraid to mess around with the substrate and injure them. They were 2 inches when I put in incubator. Thanks for any help!

[@clognog8049]

i have some desert beetles and am seeing babies running around so i will try raise em.

[@Aquarimax]

You’ ve got larvae? Excellent!

[@thelittlethingskate9567]

Congratulations!!

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you Kate!! I can’t stop smiling!! 😃

[@DRaquascapes]

I've tried for years... congratualtions

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you!! I hope you have success with yours as well. 👍

[@Plasmaspy]

Fantastic! Well done!

[@Aquarimax]

Thank you! I’m so glad that others were willing to share the information that got me to this point!

[@AndrewsArachnids]

i just found these larva in my hermit crab tank, the only way i can think of them getting in there is when i used the seed substrate for the CUC. They were about the size of your biggest shown larva. now i need to get the substrate sifted to see if there are more. The funny thing is, the actual egg container in the BDFB colony seems eternally empty unfortunately.

[@Aquarimax]

Well, now you know that a hermit crab tank is a good place to raise them! 😃👍

[@amyesworldcatherinesminime7945]

Hope you continue to have success with this project. The species appealed to me but I decided against as they're mostly wc.

[@Aquarimax]

Catherine Amyes I’ve got a number of larvae growing out, and have learned a lot that I think will help me improve my success rate 👍🏽

[@theanonymoustoucan5531]

Nice!

[@Aquarimax]

The Anonymous Toucan Thank you!! 😊👍

[@TemperateTanks]

this gives me some hope that i may one day be able to keep them through purchasing eggs(i hate canada import laws anything arachnid is allowed but thats about it)

[@s-1-d30]

U got ship to the U.K. I can’t find a single breeder here

[@Aquarimax]

I wish I could...international shipping is incredibly complicated...

[@mariehaugland9996]

Thespidershop uk

[@s-1-d30]

Marie Haugland they don’t have any in stock I think they had one shipment like once but that’s it

[@mariehaugland9996]

They have it in £16 www.thespidershop.co.uk/other-beetles-c-120_124.html

[@hikariscissors]

Hi, Any updates on more beetles emerging? Or did you only get that one? Thanks for sharing these cool videos!

[@Aquarimax]

Apparently many of my first wave of larvae succumbed to a humidity spike , but I have more in the incubator now, and and least one is showing signs of pupation. 👍🏽

[@hikariscissors]

@@Aquarimax Great! Please keep us updated! Thanks for the reply and keep up the good work!

[@spicybeans5872]

Awesome! I just saw my bdfbs breeding, and while I don’t think I’ll be able to get any full grown beetles this time around, I’m still hopeful it might work, because of how helpful this video is, however I don’t have an incubator tho :( the link in the description isn’t working

[@Aquarimax]

Spicybeans I hope you do succeed! I just fixed the link now, I think.

[@spicybeans5872]

Aquarimax Pets yep, it works now! In your experience, how long was it from mating to finding eggs, and from finding eggs to them hatching? Also, did you remove the eggs from the tank or wait until they hatched? Im not super knowledgeable about beetle mating (I got my bdfbs less than a month ago😅). Thanks!

[@Aquarimax]

Spicybeans The eggs and larvae showed up within a few weeks of putting the beetles in. I have always collected larvae rather than directly collecting eggs. 👍🏽

[@gregington.]

What did you keep them in during the larva stage? And do they require any maintenance while in the incubator?

[@Aquarimax]

I have found that keeping them with the adults is easiest while they are larvae, and when they are big enough, i out them in the incubator. Maintaining temperature and humidity is the only maintenance they require while in the incubator.

[@gregington.]

@@Aquarimax thank you very much!

[@chefboy6436]

Very interesting! So a while back I had a desert hairy scorpion and he got stuck in his water bowl for a couple of hours at night, when I pulled him out and let him dry for about 2 days he care back alive, I believe this process is needed as they live in the desert and so they get floods in there burrows and thus they evolved over time so they can somehow come back alive! So they don’t drown ever. Also rus do you have a Facebook? So I can msg you on messenger as I am breeding Black Death feigning beetles

[@Aquarimax]

Chef Boy It is interesting how so many invertebrates seem to be able to handle long-term submersion in water! You can find me as Aquarimax on Facebook. 👍

[@chefboy6436]

Aquarimax Pets thanks for the response! I just sent you a DM, thanks rus 🙂

[@GodlyAtheist]

How did a 2 inch larva turn into that beetle..

[@Aquarimax]

GodlyAtheist they are not really thick larvae like stag beetles, and they definitely lose some length when they pupate.

[@mariehaugland9996]

Hello, will the female burry down to lay her eggs, or don't she care? Thanks

[@Aquarimax]

Usually the female deposits the eggs 🥚 n the sand, so they are covered but not deeply.

[@cryogenickid4159]

I have followed all of your steps here, and put my first BDFB larvae (about an inch long or so) into a substrate cup and then into the same incubator you have on October 28th. I check it every day and keep it between 75-80% humidity and right at about 88 degrees F. Do you know how long it should take to know if I have a successful pupation occur? I do not want to go digging around in the cup and disturb/harm the larvae (should it still be alive of course), but am wondering if you have any insights for me. Thank You.

[@Aquarimax]

@@cryogenickid4159 The time seems quite variable, and if the larvae was an inch long, it may or may not have a bit of growing to do before it is ready. I do think it is too late to hope you may still get a successful enclosure.

[@cryogenickid4159]

@@Aquarimax Thanks. I will post here if I get positive news. I might decide to very carefully poke around and see if I can find out.

[@cryogenickid4159]

@@Aquarimax I discovered my beetle is alive and well. He has gotten a bit larger alright and is now a shiny, waxy pale-yellow. He burrowed back into the substrate cup. One last question if you don't mind...should I be putting any kind of extra food in the cup, or extremely lightly misting it to keep it ever so slightly moist, in spite of the cup being inside the incubator? Thank You and appreciated!

[@Aquarimax]

@ that is great news! I would continue offering food and checking in it frequently to prevent mold. As far as misting , I haven’t done that when they are in the incubator, maintaining the humidity seemed to be sufficient

[@cryogenickid4159]

@@Aquarimax Thanks again for the reply and advice.

[@MIsopods]

Hiya Rus. Quick question. Can you house BDFB with isopods? Hope all is well!

[@Aquarimax]

Great question! These beetles require low humidity (the adults at least) and good ventilation, and appreciate a temperature gradient. If you have isopods that can handle those parameters, then it can be possible to keep them together. I saw a video of a successful setup in which BDFBs, including a number of large larvae, shared an enclosure with Armadillidium vulgare, so it can be done.

[@MIsopods]

@@Aquarimax Thank you. I often wonder both about care/husbandry, but then also...if some combos are just naturally more prone to work versus not based on things we may not be able to see all the time, like predation or competition, OR stress caused by other animals. Thanks again! Hope I can make the stream!

[@Aquarimax]

Those can often be factors, whether or not we see them, good point. Sometimes competition is less direct…for example, one creature might crowd another out of the best and safest areas for molting…never attacking them, but still causing stress and increasing mortality.

[@ΓιάννηςΚουρουκλίδης-χ6π]

I need some help my mantis just molted successfully but he doesn't eat if I give he's pray he won't even try catching it can somebody help

[@Aquarimax]

infinite blue Did you wait at least 24 hours after the molt before offering food? That is generally safest.

[@ΓιάννηςΚουρουκλίδης-χ6π]

I didn't and then I checked that you had to feed it a day after and he's ok

[@サム-s1q]

蛹になってから3週間ぐらい経つんですけど蛹が黒ずんでピクリとも動きません 死んでしまったんでしょうか？ 蛹になった時片側の足が変に折れ曲がってて動かせていなかったみたいなんですけど対処法がわからず様子見してました😢

[@samuelwayfarer6224]

Can I keep a blue feigning death eater in a terrarium that already has large darkling beetles / superworms in it? Will the darkling beetles or superworms hurt them?

[@Aquarimax]

They will probsbly be fine together, assuming low humidity and good. Entilation. They may predate on each other!s larvae and eggs.

[@garymcintyre1498]

Hi russ iv found isopods out looking today I cant find them on the chart . Could you send me a email address to send you pictures , see if you recognize them , thanks

[@Aquarimax]

Gary Mcintyre Hi Gary, you can DM me directly on Instagram, or email here: www.aquarimax.com/contact/

[@Jimmyboy3215]

Do you need the incubator cause I’ve got some recently and they started laying a ton of eggs

[@Aquarimax]

Not to get larvae, and you can get some pupation without the incubator, but it does seem to increase numbers

[@vernhartjr]

Let me know if anyone needs some!

[@AllegoryGar]

Offer still stand my friend? I'm based out of MN

[@vernhartjr]

@@AllegoryGar yes. I have a few.

[@vernhartjr]

I have some for sale.

[@annemontesi8468]

Does anyone know the average time it takes for the larva to pupate and emerge in the incubator? I have had some in there for three months and I don’t know if I should give up hope thanks in advance

[@atlas1916]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am sure you would enjoy some more beetle breeding related stuff, so please check out Daniel Ambuehl Beetle Breeding here on KZbin.

[@LizNorred]

Congratulations!

[@Aquarimax]

Liz Norred Thank you!!

[@aaronfinkel390]

Congratulations!!!

[@Aquarimax]

Aaron Finkel Thank you! It’s still doing well so far!! 👍

[@aaronfinkel390]

@@Aquarimax we are glad to hear that! My son wanted and got a vivarium with 5 blue and four smooth death feigning beetles for his 7th birthday. They are all doing great, and we've seen lots of mating and some egg laying. We've enjoyed your videos about them and other things as well. My daughter is now on the lookout for velvet ants when we go for walks in habitats they might be found. I saw what I think is a male velvet ant last weekend. We're looking forward to following this beetle's progress and hopefully more breeding success from your group!