Dorcus titanus

[The wolf]

So my parents got me a stag beetle rearing kit this Christmas and finally a pair has become available they are,as the title suggests dorcus titanus so i was wondering if anyone has any care sheets information or advice on these beetles and weather they are suitable for a beginner

 

[Ratmosphere]

I remember the same kind of thread you posted a while back. They’re not too bad for a beginner if you follow directions. You want a lot of rotting wood flakes and a breeding log and a good sized container with air holes. Depending where you live, you could source some of the materials from the wild. If not, Titan Monster Beetle Shop has some good substrate and breeding logs.

Put 1-2” of white rotting wood or flake soil on the bottom of the breeding container. Then you will add the breeding log in. It’s important to soak the log in water a few hours before you use it. After the log is ready, add more layers of substrate until you reach the top. Make sure it’s compact but not super tight. It’s ideal to have 6-9” of substrate in the container. Add leaves and beetle jellies on top.

It’s important to keep the substrate at a good moisture level and not make it soaked with water. If you could squeeze water out of the substrate, it’s way too wet.

Wait a few months and you should have larvae if the female bred successfully.

 

[The wolf]

I remember the same kind of thread you posted a while back. They’re not too bad for a beginner if you follow directions. You want a lot of rotting wood flakes and a breeding log and a good sized container with air holes. Depending where you live, you could source some of the materials from the wild. If not, Titan Monster Beetle Shop has some good substrate and breeding logs.

Put 1-2” of white rotting wood or flake soil on the bottom of the breeding container. Then you will add the breeding log in. It’s important to soak the log in water a few hours before you use it. After the log is ready, add more layers of substrate until you reach the top. Make sure it’s compact but not super tight. It’s ideal to have 6-9” of substrate in the container. Add leaves and beetle jellies on top.

It’s important to keep the substrate at a good moisture level and not make it soaked with water. If you could squeeze water out of the substrate, it’s way too wet.

Wait a few months and you should have larvae if the female bred successfully.

Yeah that thread was on rainbow stags which I still can't find anywhere
Thanks for all the info

 

[Ratmosphere]

Same premise for most stag beetles. No problem. Make sure the male does not kill the female before or after the mating session. Ask the seller when they hatched out. With this info you could give the beetles their hibernation time. When they become more active after hibernation, then it is time to mate them.

 

[The wolf]

Same premise for most stag beetles. No problem. Make sure the male does not kill the female before or after the mating session. Ask the seller when they hatched out. With this info you could give the beetles their hibernation time. When they become more active after hibernation, then it is time to mate them.

So would I be hibernating them or just waiting till they perk up

 

[Ratmosphere]

If they're wandering and eating every day they are ready to breed.

 

[The wolf]

If they're wandering and eating every day they are ready to breed.

So I don't have to hibernate them myself

 

[The wolf]

What substrate should I keep the separated adults on

 

[Ratmosphere]

100% moist sphagnum moss.

 

[The wolf]

100% moist sphagnum moss.

So no dirt type stuff just sphagnum

 

[Ratmosphere]

Yep! For egg laying the flake soil/white rotting wood, and breeding log must be used.

 

[The wolf]

Sounds like a silly question but is it ok to use tap water to soak it

 

[dord]

Sounds like a silly question but is it ok to use tap water to soak it

Tap water should be fine, but depending on where you live it has more contaminants.

Also, this thread must be payback for me bringing up V. ornata were available in the US by reminding me about the limited beetle selection in the US!

 

[The wolf]

they have arrived!!! Yay
But the male has mites they don't look harmful to me but I just wanted to run it by you guys also does my setup look okay or is there anything I need to change

 

[The wolf]

 

[The wolf]

Update: he's got a little hide now or more of a big hide but whatever he seems a little less stressed now

 

[Ratmosphere]

Beautiful beetles bro!

 

[The wolf]

Beautiful beetles bro!

Thanks are the mites anything to worry about though

 

[Ratmosphere]

Not at all. You could always buy a soft paint brush, brush them off, and squish them once they fall off. I use to do that a lot for my larvae that had mites. And a hide in the enclosure does not matter. They will burrow under the moss and feel secure.

 

[The wolf]

Tap water should be fine, but depending on where you live it has more contaminants.

Also, this thread must be payback for me bringing up V. ornata were available in the US by reminding me about the limited beetle selection in the US!

Just check out bugs uk their selection is ridiculous