Beetle community

[Crush23]

What kinds of beetles can you house together? I've seen the death feigning and darklings. Are there others? What other types of darkling beetles are there available in the hobby and where?
Thanks

 

[davehuth]

I have some experience with communal enclosures because I really enjoy species interactions and shared ecologies. The range of Darklings (Tenebrionidae) available is very impressive. Any of them from the same habitats can live well together, and these types of communal enclosures are especially entertaining to care for and observe.

I have a large desert tank that includes 2 species of Asbolus, 2 species of Cryptoglossa, 6 different Eleodes, a few Edrotes, Embaphion, and a handful of miscellaneous Tenebs randomly collected by friends that I haven't even identified. These are all desert species with similar or identical dietary needs, and can live with other dry habitat inverts such as Velvet Ants and Desert Hairy Scorpions.

Because of my success keeping desert Tenebs communally, I've experimented with communal setups of other beetles collected from local temperate habitats.

I've kept 2 genera of Carabid together successfully as adults (Scaphinotus and Carabus). Their habitats are similar but their diets are specialized and different – though I'm not sure whether their larvae might prey on each other.

I've also had preliminary success housing fungus beetles together for short periods (Megalodacne, Bolitotherus, Phellopsis, Euparius), all living off the same pile of polypore brackets. Like the Carabids, I don't know whether that would work as a long term project. I'll try again in the spring by providing lots and lots of brackets in a larger enclosure. I know bracket mushrooms can be hard for some people to acquire in quantity.

I'm always interested in trying new communal enclosures of various taxa, but it can be a tricky balance. It can be hard to find similar taxa that don't conflict in their habitat and dietary niches. Providing lots of space with lots of hides and climbing structure is also important.

 

[CrazyFaith77]

R their any beetle breeders in the US?

 

[pannaking22]

R their any beetle breeders in the US?

A few here on AB, but most you'd find on Beetle Forum.