Darkling beetles

[Sonic Simon]

So sonic simon has darkling beetles in his enclosure obviously when feeding my bearded dragon a meal worm or two hav escaped and found retreat in his enclosure, is it safe to leave them in his enclosure ?? Sonic is a horsefield tort ?

 

[Yvonne G]

It may depend upon how big your tortoise is. If it's a very young tortoise I'd remove the beetles.

 

[Sonic Simon]

It may depend upon how big your tortoise is. If it's a very young tortoise I'd remove the beetles.

Ahhh good shout Sonic is about 2-3yrs remote control for sz guide ?

 

[Markw84]

Darkling Beetles are herbivorous eating vegetation and decaying vegetation. The do not bite at all and would be harmless to a tortoise. They live about 6-12 months and in that time can produce lots and lots of mealworms! They can end up being a bit of a smelly mess as the both release an odor as defense and their waste if built up, is quite smelly.

 

[Sonic Simon]

Darkling Beetles are herbivorous eating vegetation and decaying vegetation. The do not bite at all and would be harmless to a tortoise. They live about 6-12 months and in that time can produce lots and lots of mealworms! They can end up being a bit of a smelly mess as the both release an odor as defense and their waste if built up, is quite smelly.

So not very good as clean up crew in my other bio-active enclosure for my beardie and leo gecko, not sure i'll leave them in sonics enclosure either if its gonna start to smell lols as hes in living room with us lols

 

[Len B]

You can set them up in simple container and they will produce many young worms like Mark said. I use 10 gallon aquariums with a screen top and lay newspaper on the screen top. I just use old fashioned oats and potatoes sliced at least in half. You can cut thinner slices but they dry out quicker. You've already done the time consuming part, getting them to turn into beetles. I put the large worms in deli cups with nothing in the cup but the worm and it still may take a month or more to adulthood. It's not a lot of work and once they get going you will have plenty of worms of different sizes for feeding.

 

[KarenSoCal]

Mealworms turn into darkling beetles?? I learn something new here every day!

Aren't they the beetles that stand on their heads?

 

[Sonic Simon]

You can set them up in simple container and they will produce many young worms like Mark said. I use 10 gallon aquariums with a screen top and lay newspaper on the screen top. I just use old fashioned oats and potatoes sliced at least in half. You can cut thinner slices but they dry out quicker. You've already done the time consuming part, getting them to turn into beetles. I put the large worms in deli cups with nothing in the cup but the worm and it still may take a month or more to adulthood. It's not a lot of work and once they get going you will have plenty of worms of different sizes for feeding.

This is exactly what i have done lols, i also have a mini storage drawer mealworm farm for smaller meal worm can i put the smaller beetles in with the bigger beetles ??

 

[William Lee Kohler]

Mealworms turn into darkling beetles?? I learn something new here every day!

Aren't they the beetles that stand on their heads?

I think you're referring to Bombadier Beetles that actually aim their butt and spray you in defense.

 

[Len B]

This is exactly what i have done lols, i also have a mini storage drawer mealworm farm for smaller meal worm can i put the smaller beetles in with the bigger beetles ??

Sure you can , but I see no advantage doing this. It's better to keep them separated. I read that the super worms may be cannibalistic to some extent. If true the smaller regular worms may not have a chance to grow to a feed able size.

 

[Len B]

Mealworms turn into darkling beetles?? I learn something new here every day!

Aren't they the beetles that stand on their heads?

Not the regular meal worms, the ones referred to as super worms. I don't know about a head standing beetle.

 

[Len B]

I think you're referring to Bombadier Beetles that actually aim their butt and spray you in defense.

@Tom may know about the bombardier beetle, He is the person agitating one to make it spray for the slow motion camera on the show Ancient Aliens that aired a couple years ago.

 

[KarenSoCal]

I think you're referring to Bombadier Beetles that actually aim their butt and spray you in defense.

I have loads of these in my yard, garage, and anywhere they can get. I turn on a light at night and 20 of them will do their headstand. Funny to see!

 

[Sonic Simon]

Sure you can , but I see no advantage doing this. It's better to keep them separated. I read that the super worms may be cannibalistic to some extent. If true the smaller regular worms may not have a chance to grow to a feed able size.

Brill will keep seperate then thankyou for your advice, bery appreciated ?