Housing: These can be successfully kept in a small open topped fish bowl in small numbers, but are also happy in larger enclosures. Provide a hide since they do not dig and hide themselves; they are more likely to wander around their tank if they have a ready retreat. Death Feigning Beetles cannot climb glass and do not bite.
Lighting: No additional lighting necessary. In the wild they hide from the sun and have special adaptations to protect themselves if they are unable to reach shelter before the sun rises. The blue color is a waxy secretion and thin “sunscreen”
Temperature: Normal to warm room temperature, between 65-75 degrees. These beetles retreat in the day time and do not experience the extreme high temperatures of their natural habitat and therefore do not need heat lamps or spot lights.
Feeding: We feed carrots for water and dog food for nutrition. Cucumbers are a special treat.
Watering: Unnecessary. The beetles look blue because of a waxy coating they excrete to protect them from the sun. When the beetles get wet, this washes off and they are black until it builds up again.
Substrate: We use pure sand. You can mix it 75% sand 25% organic soil, such as coco fiber, if you want to keep them with a succulent plant.
Breeding: While the beetles breed with vigor, they have never successfully produced young in captivity.
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