Snail-eating beetles

[BepopCola]

Does any one have any experience with Scaphinotus sp? - Snail-eating beetles.

I'm considering looking for some, but info seems scarce.
I'm mostly curious about what they'd eat. I've found info that they eat snails/slugs (of course), fish pellets, and mealworms.
But would they try to eat other beetles? isopods? millipedes?
I'm also not sure if they're burrowers.

Any info helps!

 

[davehuth]

I've just begun keeping a local Sphaeroderus sp. (in the Small Snail-eating Beetles group). I've also noticed that information is hard to come by.

A Carabid editor on BugGuide has had luck keeping and breeding snail-eaters, and suggests adding molasses (!!!) to their diet. However, it also seems that even closely related species can have different preferences/needs.

I can tell you that my Sphaeroderus do burrow into the substrate a bit, and also spend time within clumps of damp sphagnum. They eat earthworms and dead mealworms, but haven't touched molasses. They're also very active on the surface at night and fun to watch, so I give them lots of leaf litter and sticks to climb around on and hide under.

I have the impression that many uncommonly kept Carabids hold a lot of potential for the hobby, but more information is needed. If you decide to keep some of your local Scaphinotus sp., be sure to update your experience here. There's also a significant braintrust over at the beetleforum you might try. Good luck!

 

[The Mantis Menagerie]

I think we are both eyeing the same listing on Bugs in Cyberspace. Carabids can be powerful, so I would recommend keeping them by themselves. Based on their preference for soft, moist prey, it might be beneficial to soak the fish pellets before feeding. Maybe I need to get some, that way I can give better advice.

 

[BepopCola]

I think we are both eyeing the same listing on Bugs in Cyberspace.

I think so, haha.

 

[The Mantis Menagerie]

They are gone, so I guess someone got them. I honestly do not need to be trying to breed another carabid.

 

[Sarkhan42]

I've never had success breeding them, but keeping them hasn't been very difficult. They'll eat plenty of prekilled prey, but IME will actively hunt waxworms. Mine also actively burrowed in damp coco fiber and drank from bottle cap dishes.

 

[BepopCola]

They are gone, so I guess someone got them. I honestly do not need to be trying to breed another carabid.

Darn.

I have snails, earthworms, and nematodes breeding in my spider plant tank, and I wanted to introduce something that would survive off of them.

 

[squidkid]

Darn.

I have snails, earthworms, and nematodes breeding in my spider plant tank, and I wanted to introduce something that would survive off of them.

what kinda nematodes?

 

[BepopCola]

what kinda nematodes?

No idea. I assume they came in on a plant.
They're white and pointy. I've seen them climbing the glass and eating springtails.

 

[Galapoheros]

I've found some locally. Their mandibles look specialized, to go into shells so seems they wouldn't attack other 'live' inverts with hard exos. I'm just making a guess there.

 

[pannaking22]

I think as long as you can provide soft prey you'll stand a chance of being able to keep various species. Snails/slugs may be the favorite and are necessary every now and then, but various other soft things may be acceptable in between mollusks.

 

[The Mantis Menagerie]

Darn.

I have snails, earthworms, and nematodes breeding in my spider plant tank, and I wanted to introduce something that would survive off of them.

Two more are available (or someone canceled their order) on Bugs in Cyberspace if you are still interested (why am I pointing this out if I want them???).