Spread.Out.Paradise

Does anyone have any tips on keeping/breeding Luchormetica? I don't have any right now, just doing research since these are on my wishlist and I've heard they're pretty finicky, lol. I heard they need rotten wood to thrive. Is this true? If so, what kind of wood is best? Would white oak bark work (like these?) Is flake soil needed? I am specifically interested in the following species, if this helps: Lucihormetica subcincta (the less finicky of the two, if I understand correctly?) Lucihormetica verrucosa Thanks in advance!

What a beauty! Good luck!

I wouldn't recommend feeding freeze dried at all, honestly. Sure, there's a larger variety of insects available, but the process removes so much moisture and nutrition that it undermines any benefits that variety might have provided. In addition, you won't get to gut load the insect first. I've also heard that it increases the risk of impaction since it's dehydrated. Are you feeding him any other insects? If not, are you open to trying other feeders? Feeder crickets are devil's spawn, if you ask me. They stink, are messy, have a short lifespan, and always seem to get everywhere. Roaches a

Oh, interesting. In that case I'm leaning a bit more towards booklice. I've never seen them freak jump like my other springtails do (unless not all springtails jump like that?). I also purchased a bunch of old books recently, so that might have been what introduced booklice into the environment.

Sorry for the bad picture, but I was checking on my Gyna roach colony today and I notice these little bugs running around under the cork bark I gave them. They found them hanging around the dish of alfalfa/spirulina and they dig into the substrate when exposed to light. I thought they might be springtails at first since I have springtail cultures going in different colonies but their shapes look a bit different to me. Their movements seem a bit sporadic for them to be mites too? Does anyone know what these are?