When I was in Kingman prison I kept a velvet ant as a pet. I had no idea what it was and even handled it at times. It wasn't red though, it was white. Now I've been learning more about them and I'm thankful it didn't sting me
Oh my goodness I want to do a death feigning beetle set up so badly. I was looking at the same website I would like to get all the kinds he has. Very informative video! The Velvet ants are very cute but I'll pass on the stinging bugs 👌 I would love to see an update of the larvae! You have earned a subscriber
Piggiswinks glad you liked it! I am contemplating doing a BDFB breeding project this summer. If I manage to get it going I will definitely document it on video, The last time I checked, i couldn’t detect any larvae in this setup, but they may just have been hiding.
Trying to feed nectar eating inverts always ends with a bunch of sticky bugs! You can use nectar soaked cotton balls or even better a nectar filled tiny bottle/test tube with the opening stuffed with cotton or natural wicking. Lay it on it's side and the bugs will consume the nectar as it soaks through the cotton.
I never thought a desert vivarium community could be so interesting. I would love to see a planted one, with many species of plants and more animal diversity. Would be really cool.
Blue Bowser Someday I want to make a terraced, planted one, with a 20 g long vivarium, dozens of beetle species, and velvet ants of various sizes and colors 👍
@@Aquarimax I feel like this could be one of those 24/7 streaming channels like they have of tropical aquariums. Just a beautiful desert vivarium with lots of life.
Wow, thank you so much for introducing these cool bois to us! I saw this video 2 days ago, did some research, and just a minute ago I bought 4 or those cute buggers! Alone the fact that they don't need any humidity nailed it for me. I love desert enclosures and never had a chance to make one. (Since especially snails and isopods need humid habitats. Now that I was only a catlady, and a snaillady for a while, seems like I am on the best way to become a isopod and buglady too 🤣🐌🐞🦀🐈
Cyan Walker I am glad to have had a hand in introducing them to you. They are fun, you will enjoy them, especially in the evening when they really become active!
This was very helpful. I want some Death Feigners soon and I already have a Velvent Ant which I love to watch. Going to try and cohabitate them when I get the other beetles along with some Darklings
I love the background idea! I did a sand painting on mine and the BDF beetles climb it. Maybe I should have painted the sand on the outside. I put branches nearby so if they fall, they will fall onto the branches. All I have are the blues in mine, I am inspired to add some bug friends now. Hmmm...… :)
MickieM the sand painting sounds beautiful! Do we get to see it? I feel like my other beetles and velvet ants have definitely increased activity levels in the vivarium, I don’t think you will regret adding some other species 😊👍
Super cool, interesting, and informative! My fave part was the first feeding shot of the beetle where you could see it munching on that pile of goo. Great video, Rus! I'm glad I've discovered your channel. You have a very pleasant manner about you and it makes your videos charming. :)
Looks like they are enjoying their meal :) they like pellets too! Looks like I should get bug burger too now, never seen my Black Death Feigning beetles eat before but I know they eat..
Kenneth Reyes I am glad that they will take such a variety of food items...there Is always more food gone in the morning, your BDFBs are probably Doing most of their eating at night, right?
Ooo This is a lovely set up. I've been planning on getting a bunch of different desert beetles myself, at some point in the future. And yes you never want to be stung by a velvet ant. I stepped on one barefoot as a kid. It was worse than red wasps or hornets
Zhi Monster Thanks, glad you like it! I agree...I neglected to mention this in the video, but I was also stung by a velvet ant as a child...not fun! Some time after recording this video, one of the velvet ants ended up crawling onto my hand (I did not mean for it to happen)! But as I did nothing to antagonize it, it was not interested in stinging me. Still, I did feel a wee bit nervous...
I normally see most of these at night. Besides the velvet ants. Those love the sunshine. They go go go and need the heat I think to keep their metabolism high enough to be that active.
I do have some Orthoprus millipedes, but in this particular setup, the substrate is not suitable for them. I may set up a nice large desert setup at some point with the millipedes as well...that would be pretty cool!
This is just what I've been looking for! I was gifted an exo terra terranium and have been looking at it for a couple of weeks trying to figure out what might work well inside.
Linden Edwards I thought about using the water crystals with honey, but wasn’t sure if the polyacrylamide would hold the sugars well or not. At any rate, the bugs do well with the agar jelly. 👍
Do you think heated rocks would be appropriate if you have a light on a dark cycle? Outside air can get chilly in my home although deserts can get cold too so maybe they don't mind.
GIVE ME THAT DREAM MATTE MOUSSE Thank you! It doesn’t need to be cleaned out often...depending on size and number of inhabitants, maybe every 3-6 months. I do remove old food much more frequently.
Thank you for the information! I am looking into setting up a desert vivarium for my classroom with blue feigning death beetles and I would like to put another insect species with them. I don't have the option of the other beetles at the moment. Are you aware if they would get along with regular ants? Or might they eat them? What about hermit crabs? Do you think the hermit crabs would eat them? Thanks for any input. I cannot find any information online and I am curious.
Great questions! Keeping a viable ant colony with BDFBs, in my opinion, would be problematic, as the ants would likely perceive the beetles as a threat to the colony and attack them. Granted, the beetles are well-armored, but it would be better to be safe than sorry. Hermit crabs require a much higher level of humidity than the beetles can tolerate, so I wouldn’t recommend that pairing either. Some people successfully keep desert hairy scorpions with BDFBs. They are large scorpions with a relatively mild sting. Orthoporus millipedes could be an option too, as long as they have a deep area of substrate with a slightly damp layer underneath. I have even seen people keep Armadillidium vulgare, the common pillbugs, with BDFBs. They would need a moist area under a rock or piece of wood to thrive.
+Aquarimax Pets Yeah , they are everywhere , a nightmare . Also there are now the flying ants , this summer is a sort of nightmare , thousands of mosquitos , now even the ants and the flying ones . I guess I would need a chameleon .
Justice J. Srisuk I am a few hours’ drive from the Sonoran Desert...I can find the Eleodes beetles around my house, and have heard that the Asbolus verrucosus occur aroubd here as well, but I have never found one this far north. 👍
@@Aquarimax I didn't have velvet ants, but I had the blue and black death feigning beetles and some other desert beetles with them that came from bugs in cyberspace
I love this video, but I must ask why you've made a video about the blue death feigning beetles and not the black ones, and I would say the Larvae are probably the other species, as those of the death feigning beetles look more like Mealworms
The Dark Master The Dark Master I should make a video about the Eleodes species too. Since I made this video, I have separated the blue death feigning beetles from the others, and the blue death feigning beetles have produced quite a few larvae.
I must say that was a very educational video thanks for sharing I'm thinking about getting a couple of rhino Beatles to start my own beetle habitat I would like to know can all types of beetles live together?
Thank you, I am glad it was helpful! Humidity, diet, substrate, and temperature requirements differ for various beetle species, so while desert beetle species can often live together, forest beetle species, for example, wouldn’t necessarily thrive in the same habitat. 😊👍
Great video! Any advice on keeping acrylic from warping? I set up a 10 gallon vivarium for my mourning gecko. The acrylic is warping, creating rather large gaps. Also, since I set up the new vivarium, I have been mourning gecko crazed! When is the next mourning gecko video? I’m so sorry, but one more question..... where did you purchase your vinegaroon?
EverythingCREATED Hmmm...is it weight or heat causing the acrylic to warp? I should do another mourning gecko video soon...any specific subtopic requests? I purchased my vinegaroon from Mastigoproctus on Arachnoboards. Unfortunately he is no longer very active there, but others sell them in the classifieds there from time to time.
It’s not weight or heat, sadly....maybe go even more in-depth with their reproductive process? Thanks! I’ll keep looking, I’ve been looking for a good invert Pet....... one more question, did you ever find out if Tiki2 is a clone?
EverythingCREATED what kind of enclosure is it? I am puzzled by that... Good suggestion for the mourning geckos. I hope you find a Vinegaroon...i know of some people who nearly always have them, so email me privately and I can offer some suggestions for you. 👍
Well, I converted a horizontal 10 gallon to a vertical one. I made the door from the acrylic. It will be on my channel in two weeks or so, I think I’ve fixed the problem with some small, Velcro strips. How would I find your eMail address?
We are setting up a bioactive bearded dragon enclosure... would any of these beetles make a good clean up crew?? It's hard to find critters that will take the warm, dry environment. We already have isopods and buffalo beetles... any other suggestions would be awesome 🙂
klcpca I am thinking that beardies might attempt to snack on the beetles. Which types of isopods do you have? Also, I have heard that superworms are used in cleanup crews. Bearded dragons eat them, of course, but we use mealworms as part of our leopard gecko cleanup crew, and they are quite effective. She leaves the distasteful beetles alone and does not hunt down all of the larvae.
I got one of the blue death feigners, and some other desert beetles. I have a light on them, and they are by a window. Do you think I should move them away from the window?
Jonah T if the direct rays of the sun hit the beetle enclosure through the window, I would suggest moving it, as it could overheat, but if the light from the window is only indirect, it shouldn’t cause any problems.
They do indeed have very painful stings. Fortunately, velvet ants are not particularly interested in stinging as long as they are treated with respect. One of the most inoffensive wasp taxa that are actually capable of stinging, in my experience.
Great question! I haven’t kept skinks, but I would say that you get out of any pet proportional to what you put it. If you have just enough time to care for it, but not enough to enjoy it, I suggest holding off until your situation changes.
What temperature do you keep the vivarium at? I got some BDFB and was told room temp would be fine, but they are extremely inactive :( what would be the best way to heat the tank?
Walking Graffiti My room temps in the office where I keep them are between 68 and 72 F, but the CFL lamp on the vivarium is around 23 watts, and it warms the vivarium up quite a bit. I have noticed that my beetles went through a period of inactivity when I first moved them into my office, but they are more active now. The beetles also tend to be much more active in the afternoon and evening.
Would the wasp survive if their sting got snipped so it wouldn't be sharp anymore and therefore unable to be harmful? I'm just asking out of curiosity, I don't exactly plan on keeping insects anymore after I couldn't even keep roaches alive :(
I dunno why people say they're not ants when ants are wasp. Similar to when people say Yellow Jackets are not Hornets but Wasp despite Yellow Jackets have more in common with say a Bald Face Hornet than they do other Wasp, and in spite of the fact that Hornets are in the same family as Wasp. Issue is Ants are colonial wingless Wasp and some of the most primitive ants in the world are very Wasp like behavior wise.
Good point...ants are indeed a type of wasp. There are some traits that separate velvet ants from true ants though, like the shape of their antennae, (no ‘elbow’), and the fact that velvet ant females never have wings during any point of their life cycle.
When I was kid, I made the mistake of hold a Brazilian velvet ant in my hand... worst sting ever! (BTW, here they are called 'formiga que grita', translated as ant who screams, because they can make a very loud sound when in danger.)
When I was in Kingman prison I kept a velvet ant as a pet. I had no idea what it was and even handled it at times. It wasn't red though, it was white. Now I've been learning more about them and I'm thankful it didn't sting me
2:08 I never see my Black Death Feigning beetles eat so willingly! I need bug burger!
Kenneth Reyes Also try dead crickets...they really love those...
That's super cool! I never thought about keeping velvet ants in captivity.
varanidguy Nor did I, until I saw Peter’s
video. I am so glad I did! 😊👍
Oh my goodness I want to do a death feigning beetle set up so badly. I was looking at the same website I would like to get all the kinds he has. Very informative video! The Velvet ants are very cute but I'll pass on the stinging bugs 👌 I would love to see an update of the larvae! You have earned a subscriber
Piggiswinks glad you liked it! I am contemplating doing a BDFB breeding project this summer. If I manage to get it going I will definitely document it on video, The last time I checked, i couldn’t detect any larvae in this setup, but they may just have been hiding.
I have empty fish tank and really consider these after watching your and Clint's Reptiles videos! Thank you for the useful information.
Trying to feed nectar eating inverts always ends with a bunch of sticky bugs!
You can use nectar soaked cotton balls or even better a nectar filled tiny bottle/test tube with the opening stuffed with cotton or natural wicking. Lay it on it's side and the bugs will consume the nectar as it soaks through the cotton.
graphite I was thinking about trying that, great suggestion!
I never thought a desert vivarium community could be so interesting. I would love to see a planted one, with many species of plants and more animal diversity. Would be really cool.
Blue Bowser Someday I want to make a terraced, planted one, with a 20 g long vivarium, dozens of beetle species, and velvet ants of various sizes and colors 👍
@@Aquarimax That sounds awesome. I will subscribe just in case you make it so I don't miss the video!
Blue Bowser thank you! Maybe that will help motivate me to set it up sooner. 😊👍
@@Aquarimax I feel like this could be one of those 24/7 streaming channels like they have of tropical aquariums. Just a beautiful desert vivarium with lots of life.
Gwyntomology I love that idea! Someday I want to set up a 20 g long vivarium like this...streaming it would be awesome!
Love this! This is so interesting!
I've been wanting to get some Death Feigning Beetles, and came across your video. You've put together a great community!
2A Enthusiast Thank you! I have since started a BDFB breeding project. They have produced a good number of larvae so far!
you can use test tube+cotton plug setup for the honey/water mixture, it would be less messy ;)
Daghan Gurkanlar that is a great suggestion and I may try that. 😊👍
Wow, thank you so much for introducing these cool bois to us!
I saw this video 2 days ago, did some research, and just a minute ago I bought 4 or those cute buggers!
Alone the fact that they don't need any humidity nailed it for me.
I love desert enclosures and never had a chance to make one. (Since especially snails and isopods need humid habitats.
Now that I was only a catlady, and a snaillady for a while, seems like I am on the best way to become a isopod and buglady too 🤣🐌🐞🦀🐈
Cyan Walker I am glad to have had a hand in introducing them to you. They are fun, you will enjoy them, especially in the evening when they really become active!
Stunning set up.
pinkyysk Thank you, I am glad you appreciate it! 😊👍
This was such a cool video. So well done. Cute beetle pop and locking lol
Nadia Janni Thank you! I love the little beetle dance!!
This was an extremely fascinating video.
I'm going to research the ants and beetles. You're making me want to learn more.
Elaine Smith Thank you Elaine! Then I have succeeded in my quest. 😊👍
That seems like an awesome little set up! Might have to get some of these little guys and gals..
C S they are so fun! I have since expanded to 2 larger enclosures and more species. Definitely a lot of fun!
This was very helpful. I want some Death Feigners soon and I already have a Velvent Ant which I love to watch. Going to try and cohabitate them when I get the other beetles along with some Darklings
Break er Glad to know it was helpful! Velvet ants are great fun, and will be even more fun with your beetles! 😊👍
I wish I had the skills to make such a detailed setup
SlapStyle Anims Thank you! Honestly it was much easier than it looks though. 😊👍
I recommend applesauce! My BFDBs LOVE it. And doesn't really spoil.
Really neat community tank ..... would love to have .. thanks for info
Gregg hatfield Thank you! Desert beetles and velvet ants go do well together! 😊👍
I love the background idea! I did a sand painting on mine and the BDF beetles climb it. Maybe I should have painted the sand on the outside. I put branches nearby so if they fall, they will fall onto the branches. All I have are the blues in mine, I am inspired to add some bug friends now. Hmmm...… :)
MickieM the sand painting sounds beautiful! Do we get to see it? I feel like my other beetles and velvet ants have definitely increased activity levels in the vivarium, I don’t think you will regret adding some other species 😊👍
Interesting & inspiring!
YES! I have been checking your channel for this since you mentioned it in that one q and a
The Outdoor Explorer i am happy to know that it is appreciated 😊👍 it took a while to make 🤣
Super cool, interesting, and informative! My fave part was the first feeding shot of the beetle where you could see it munching on that pile of goo. Great video, Rus! I'm glad I've discovered your channel. You have a very pleasant manner about you and it makes your videos charming. :)
Another World Terraria Why thank you! I am glad to know that, and I am very glad you discovered my channel as well 😊👍
Honestly very jealous. I wish I had a desert beetle community but my parents dont allow me to keep pet inverts
Andrew's Animals Someday...someday... what do they allow you to keep?
Luckily they allow me to keep reptiles and amphibians. But no pet inverts and I cant use roaches as feeders
Looks like they are enjoying their meal :) they like pellets too! Looks like I should get bug burger too now, never seen my Black Death Feigning beetles eat before but I know they eat..
Kenneth Reyes I am glad that they will take such a variety of food items...there
Is always more food gone in the morning, your BDFBs are probably
Doing most of their eating at night, right?
Aquarimax Pets Yes! I would be careful with sitting water, had one of my BDFB die because it fell inside and couldn’t dry off fast enough.
Kenneth Reyes good advice...I now avoid any open containers of liquid in there...
Awesome video!! I'd love to do something like this.
Ian Alicia Perry Thank you! It’s a really fun setup. 👍
Ooo This is a lovely set up. I've been planning on getting a bunch of different desert beetles myself, at some point in the future. And yes you never want to be stung by a velvet ant. I stepped on one barefoot as a kid. It was worse than red wasps or hornets
Zhi Monster Thanks, glad you like it! I agree...I neglected to mention this in the video, but I was also stung by a velvet ant as a child...not fun!
Some time after recording this video, one of the velvet ants ended up crawling onto my hand (I did not mean for it to happen)! But as I did nothing to antagonize it, it was not interested in stinging me. Still, I did feel a wee bit nervous...
I checked a couple spots n found 8 small death feigning beetles. I've seen the velvet ants run around but I leave alone.
Bantamdude Rodriguez Do you live in the Southwest?
@@Aquarimax yes sir. Also all the beetles are .25". I never found anything bigger.
Bantamdude Rodriguez interesting that they are so small...they must not get very big as larvae in your area.
You should add some giant Sonoran millipedes. Lmao you have stink beetles in there too 😂 I’ve never seen anyone keep those omg.
I’m pretty sure clown beetles are the ones that stink like hell. Or am I mistaken?
I normally see most of these at night. Besides the velvet ants. Those love the sunshine. They go go go and need the heat I think to keep their metabolism high enough to be that active.
I do have some Orthoprus millipedes, but in this particular setup, the substrate is not suitable for them. I may set up a nice large desert setup at some point with the millipedes as well...that would be pretty cool!
Tommy Ohlrich the clown beetles can definitely release an obnoxious odor, yes! Fortunately they are reluctant to do it in captivity.
Tommy Ohlrich The velvet ants do like the heat! In the wild, I tend to see them most often in the evenings.
This is just what I've been looking for! I was gifted an exo terra terranium and have been looking at it for a couple of weeks trying to figure out what might work well inside.
Heidi Blunt That ought to do nicely! What are the dimensions?
I always enjoy ur videos,
Very inspiring! I may have to get my own Death-Feigning Beetles !
Crystal Lewis thank you! If you do get some I think you will glad you did!
My little group of four arrived over the weekend and have been just too much fun! Thank you for the inspiration!
Crystal Lewis Delighted to hear it, you are very welcome! Enjoy them!
Cool i love velvet ants
acro yang thanks! Me too...velvet ants have so many great features!
@@Aquarimax 😁
I have a desert hairy scorpion and blue df beelte set up, could i add some velvet ants? Or would the scorpion and ants fight?
bobthebillable good question! I haven’t tried that combo so I can’t say for sure, but I suspect they would be okay together.
The honey water may work with water crystals (the ones you used with your mealworm culture). However the agar/gelatine jelly mix looks much better.
Linden Edwards I thought about using the water crystals with honey, but wasn’t sure if the polyacrylamide would hold the sugars well or not. At any rate, the bugs do well with the agar jelly. 👍
Can blue death feigning beetles be used as a clean up crew instead of isopods in an arid bioactive snake enclosure?
Do you think heated rocks would be appropriate if you have a light on a dark cycle? Outside air can get chilly in my home although deserts can get cold too so maybe they don't mind.
Fascinating
Armenestra Patey Thank you, it is a fun little community!
Great video!
Juunkead Thank you! 😊👍
Rus, do you think a setup like this would work for an enclosure for Spanish isopod species? (With a moist area.)
Make It Kate If you added lots of decaying leaves to the substrate it probably would 👍
Aquarimax Pets Thanks!
Can blue death feigning beetles regrow legs and antenna
Trevor Hutcheson Unfortunately they cannot, though they can usually get along quite well even if they’re missing a bit of leg.
this is so lovely! how often do you have to clean out everything?
GIVE ME THAT DREAM MATTE MOUSSE Thank you! It doesn’t need to be cleaned out often...depending on size and number of inhabitants, maybe every 3-6 months. I do remove old food much more frequently.
Cool creatures my friend ☺☺
Thank you for the information! I am looking into setting up a desert vivarium for my classroom with blue feigning death beetles and I would like to put another insect species with them. I don't have the option of the other beetles at the moment. Are you aware if they would get along with regular ants? Or might they eat them? What about hermit crabs? Do you think the hermit crabs would eat them? Thanks for any input. I cannot find any information online and I am curious.
Great questions! Keeping a viable ant colony with BDFBs, in my opinion, would be problematic, as the ants would likely perceive the beetles as a threat to the colony and attack them. Granted, the beetles are well-armored, but it would be better to be safe than sorry. Hermit crabs require a much higher level of humidity than the beetles can tolerate, so I wouldn’t recommend that pairing either. Some people successfully keep desert hairy scorpions with BDFBs. They are large scorpions with a relatively mild sting. Orthoporus millipedes could be an option too, as long as they have a deep area of substrate with a slightly damp layer underneath. I have even seen people keep Armadillidium vulgare, the common pillbugs, with BDFBs. They would need a moist area under a rock or piece of wood to thrive.
I have ants too in my house at the moment .... Let's just say they were kind of unexpected lol
Salvo Smith LOL! A smalller, less velvety type of ant, I guess?
+Aquarimax Pets Yeah , they are everywhere , a nightmare . Also there are now the flying ants , this summer is a sort of nightmare , thousands of mosquitos , now even the ants and the flying ones . I guess I would need a chameleon .
Salvo Smith a chameleon! Or an army of geckos! 😊👍
+Aquarimax Pets ah I thought of them too .
So cool! Are you in the Sonoran desert as well? I’ve seen lots of these beetles during hikes around Phoenix.
Justice J. Srisuk I am a few hours’ drive from the Sonoran Desert...I can find the Eleodes beetles around my house, and have heard that the Asbolus
verrucosus occur aroubd here as well, but I have never found one this far north. 👍
I live in the Mojave and I find all of these species all the time!
Love this setup! Only wish I could get some, but I'm not sure if they would survive the shipping or if the customs would allow it...
Margrét Nilsdóttir They are marvelous creatures, but yes, there are all sorts of hurdles and difficulties when it comes to international shipping...
Really interesting. How do you decide what your favorites are? Lot's of life in your house for sure. Great video.
Mark Osborne Thank you Mark! I guess my favorites are whatever I am working with at the moment...or in other words, thy are all my favorites! 😊👍
This whole time I thought velvet ants were actual ants lol
Many people do...they do act and look a lot like them!! 😊
Aquarimax Pets they are really cool looking! I’m hoping to get some one of these days:)
Now you're making me regret selling mine
Bluegrass Inverts - Jay Adams Did you have both tenebrionid beetles and velvet ants?
@@Aquarimax I didn't have velvet ants, but I had the blue and black death feigning beetles and some other desert beetles with them that came from bugs in cyberspace
Bluegrass Inverts - Jay Adams got it! Fun critters!
I love this video, but I must ask why you've made a video about the blue death feigning beetles and not the black ones,
and I would say the Larvae are probably the other species, as those of the death feigning beetles look more like Mealworms
The Dark Master The Dark Master I should make a video about the Eleodes species too. Since I made this video, I have separated the blue death feigning beetles from the others, and the blue death feigning beetles have produced quite a few larvae.
@@Aquarimax I do hope that you at least do a video on them, as they seem quite distinct from the blue death beetles
The Dark Master The Dark Master I think I will, good suggestion! 👍
How big is the enclosure? Btw I watched and love all your videos
Chris Robins Thank you for the support! I really appreciate it! This enclosure is 8”x8”x12”.
I must say that was a very educational video thanks for sharing I'm thinking about getting a couple of rhino Beatles to start my own beetle habitat
I would like to know can all types of beetles live together?
Thank you, I am glad it was helpful! Humidity, diet, substrate, and temperature requirements differ for various beetle species, so while desert beetle species can often live together, forest beetle species, for example, wouldn’t necessarily thrive in the same habitat. 😊👍
@@Aquarimax
Thanks again I didn't even know that but I definitely understand what you're saying
Hope you have a Happy New Year
SHAWN Taylor you”re welcome, and happy new year to you!
The sand you used it play sand right? Did you wash it when it arrived or was it okay to use?
Fuck Shit I buy brands that are prewashed , so they are ready to use.
Great video! Any advice on keeping acrylic from warping? I set up a 10 gallon vivarium for my mourning gecko. The acrylic is warping, creating rather large gaps. Also, since I set up the new vivarium, I have been mourning gecko crazed! When is the next mourning gecko video? I’m so sorry, but one more question..... where did you purchase your vinegaroon?
EverythingCREATED Hmmm...is it weight or heat causing the acrylic to warp? I should do another mourning gecko video soon...any specific subtopic requests? I purchased my vinegaroon from Mastigoproctus on Arachnoboards. Unfortunately he is no longer very active there, but others sell them in the classifieds there from time to time.
It’s not weight or heat, sadly....maybe go even more in-depth with their reproductive process? Thanks! I’ll keep looking, I’ve been looking for a good invert Pet....... one more question, did you ever find out if Tiki2 is a clone?
EverythingCREATED what kind of enclosure is it? I am puzzled by that...
Good suggestion for the mourning geckos. I hope you find a Vinegaroon...i know of some people who nearly always have them, so email me privately and I can offer some suggestions for you. 👍
Well, I converted a horizontal 10 gallon to a vertical one. I made the door from the acrylic. It will be on my channel in two weeks or so, I think I’ve fixed the problem with some small, Velcro strips. How would I find your eMail address?
We are setting up a bioactive bearded dragon enclosure... would any of these beetles make a good clean up crew?? It's hard to find critters that will take the warm, dry environment. We already have isopods and buffalo beetles... any other suggestions would be awesome 🙂
klcpca I am thinking that beardies might attempt to snack on the beetles. Which types of isopods do you have? Also, I have heard that superworms are used in cleanup crews. Bearded dragons eat them, of course, but we use mealworms as part of our leopard gecko cleanup crew, and they are quite effective. She leaves the distasteful beetles alone and does not hunt down all of the larvae.
Hey i just have a quick question are velvet ants normally in south carolina or have i been seeing alot of loose pets
Big Boi Velvet ants are naturally pretty common in South Carolina.
How do you make the beetle jelly ?
Cole Stevenson here is my. Idea on DIY beetle jelly: ua-cam.com/video/udtZlnfiI7o/v-deo.html
I got one of the blue death feigners, and some other desert beetles. I have a light on them, and they are by a window. Do you think I should move them away from the window?
Jonah T if the direct rays of the sun hit the beetle enclosure through the window, I would suggest moving it, as it could overheat, but if the light from the window is only indirect, it shouldn’t cause any problems.
@@Aquarimax do you know a good temp for them? I read 70-85. But they go around mid 60s at night where I have them.
Jonah T mid 60s at night seem to be ok, as long as it warms up a bit during the day.
The velvet ants are cool looking. Don't they have one of the most painful stings of any wasp species?
They do indeed have very painful stings. Fortunately, velvet ants are not particularly interested in stinging as long as they are treated with respect. One of the most inoffensive wasp taxa that are actually capable of stinging, in my experience.
hmmmm im thinking about having a blue death feigning beetle as a pet i think i will take it
I never understood the velvet ant is not a ant but he has ant in one of his many names 🤦♂️
Are the beetles safe to handle for a prolonged time? Or is there a hand oil problem?
Jonah T they can be handled for a quite a while...the blue waxy layer may start to rub off after a while, but it returns within a few days. 😊👍
Are skinks a good pet if you’re busy?
no.
Great question! I haven’t kept skinks, but I would say that you get out of any pet proportional to what you put it. If you have just enough time to care for it, but not enough to enjoy it, I suggest holding off until your situation changes.
What temperature do you keep the vivarium at? I got some BDFB and was told room temp would be fine, but they are extremely inactive :( what would be the best way to heat the tank?
Walking Graffiti My room temps in the office where I keep them are between 68 and 72 F, but the CFL lamp on the vivarium is around 23 watts, and it warms the vivarium up quite a bit. I have noticed that my beetles went through a period of inactivity when I first moved them into my office, but they are more active now. The beetles also tend to be much more active in the afternoon and evening.
Would the wasp survive if their sting got snipped so it wouldn't be sharp anymore and therefore unable to be harmful? I'm just asking out of curiosity, I don't exactly plan on keeping insects anymore after I couldn't even keep roaches alive :(
RouRou I am not sure what that would do, but it would likely be harmful for the velvet ant
asome... anyone knows where i can buy some of those beetles ? ....im Mexico? 😅
I dunno why people say they're not ants when ants are wasp. Similar to when people say Yellow Jackets are not Hornets but Wasp despite Yellow Jackets have more in common with say a Bald Face Hornet than they do other Wasp, and in spite of the fact that Hornets are in the same family as Wasp. Issue is Ants are colonial wingless Wasp and some of the most primitive ants in the world are very Wasp like behavior wise.
Good point...ants are indeed a type of wasp. There are some traits that separate velvet ants from true ants though, like the shape of their antennae, (no ‘elbow’), and the fact that velvet ant females never have wings during any point of their life cycle.
@@Aquarimax You can imagine that Ants started out something like the Velvet Ant though which is always a fun thought.
@@Alte.Kameraden True!
Those are awesome beetles,can you breed them?
Dinosaurs Terroir World maybe...it is easy to get them to produce larvae, inducing pupation is more complicated...
When I was kid, I made the mistake of hold a Brazilian velvet ant in my hand... worst sting ever!
(BTW, here they are called 'formiga que grita', translated as ant who screams, because they can make a very loud sound when in danger.)
Ravick Bitencourt Ouch! I have heard that sound, (technically known as ‘stridulation’) when the are disturbed...
try to breed the velvet ants!
Oleg That would be awesome! It is unfortunately very difficult, as the velvet ant larvae are parasites of ground-nesting wasp larvae...
wow, larvaes in larvaes, thats funny
how big is the tank?
Janet Tam this particular one was 8 “ x 8” x12”, but my setup is now considerably larger.
Why don't the velvet ants attack the beetles? They look as though they live peacefully
Syhom Xiong velvet ants aren’t very aggressive...they mostly just bustle about. 👍
Velvet ants are definitely not for me lol
That’s fair! I love them, but not everyone does!
What the?!! How did you get that catfish to say "subscribe"?
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