Pro tip: get yourself some silicone gummy molds. After the jelly sets you can pop out the individual servings and have nice uniform jellies; Second tip: if you don't have enough beetles/bugs to use up a full batch of jellies you cannot freeze the jellies, but you can freeze the banana mixture without the agar, then thaw it and boil with agar to make small batches as needed.
When I was an Archaeology student in Arizona back in the early 90s, a few friends and I didn't like how the teams just came in and flattened everything. Removing plants and rocks. We asked if we could go in first and remove and resettle flora and fauna. The beetles were resilient, they just walked back on in like "Yo, what up?" I used to toss apple cores or lettuce on the ground for them. After a while they just sat and waited for veggie lunch cast-offs while we were digging. They were like puppies, they used to stand up and wave antennae when food went by.
Mike Pellerin That is awesome! What you and your friends did to protect the flora and fauna is awesome, and it is also very cool that the beetles learned to anticipate food! By the way, I answered your question at the beginning of yesterday’s video. 😊👍
Thanks for referring to my blog, much appreciated. Since that initial small quantity recipe, I now make about 5l of jelly at once, and pour it while it is still hot, into pre-sterilized jars and then store it in the fridge. Unfortunately, with the numbers of beetles that I have now, it does not last long :)
Beetles as Pets You’re welcome, and thank you for the recipe! I like the idea of using pre-sterilized jars. I have toyed with the idea of adding a food-grade mold inhibitor, like the one I use in my fruit fly cultures.
@@Aquarimax Nice! I've tried them with fish food and mine don't like it. They'll munch on some turtle food here and there, but I swear they're the most picky beetles ever! I've tried them with a ton of stuff and so far they only like banana, cantaloupe, and apple, so I've been trying to find ways to diversify their diet
Thank you for making this video! I've made your recipe for my madagascar hissing cockroach colony and a few of my cave roaches as a treat, they were VERY interested and were crowding around the little dishes I put down in minutes! The hissers are rather clumsy and often accidentally step into the dishes and get all annoyed, it's cute
Super helpful, thank you! I was inspired by Clint’s Reptiles, Bugs in Cyberspace, and yourself to get my beetles, I appreciate your informative videos!
For a preservative if it becomes necessary, potassium sorbate is the one used in repashy foods and you can usually find it at brewing and fermentation supply stores. If it's ever lumpy, I always add agar powder to cold water since the hot water can make it clump though usually not much beyond a couple small chunks
Thank you for this recipie sadly in the netherlands where i live i couldnt find agar powder only pork gelatin but that came in sheets so i just added two sheets and it kinda worked next time i think i wil add 4
@@cloranmatt Beetles don't & often can't digest pork gelatin, which is why agar-agar (plant) is used for harmless "carrier" through their bellies. Not sure for scavengers who eat meat parts, but it rots fast & can make them sick. A substitute can just be pureed banana with honey offered in clean milk caps (watch it doesn't mold), or just pure maple syrup, which supposedly is the best food for certain rhino beetle species. Just dilute it with water & offer in a CLEAN sponge & keep it free of mold/bacteria. Beetles eat food with a tongue like a paintbrush.
MickieM Thanks Mickie! I adore velvet ants...they are one of my all-tome favorite insects. I wish that they could be bred in captivity and that they had longer lifespans!
hey! i just got two blue death feigning beetles. i just put in a zoomed creature food jelly cup (banana flavor). if i leave it in there will they over eat and die? there’s only two beetles. i’m just worried, how much should i let them eat? it will they be fine
@@Aquarimax hi there oh brilliant thanks i will pass on your message to my friend her tank is 2feet square and 2feet high but her room is not warm enough to keep her beetle warm she does have a 20watt heat matt and would u put that inside the tank aswell as heat bulb to get the high humidity for the bettle.she has the male megasoma elephus elephus giant beetle hes so cool👍👍thanks
@@Aquarimax hi there oh i see what do you recommend we should do so a heat bulb is not recommended i take as she was goin to but one. Many thanks Richard
Awesome,,, seems so much simpler than others I've seen. Do you think it would work if you substituted the banana with apple, or sweet potato, or carrot, etc?
Its not necessarily for beetles. I still have the kids fascination with creepy crawlers, I never outgrew it. I keep many different kinds of critters, and like to experiment with foods etc.
Eddy Young Ah, then we have something in common! 😊👍I would be interested in finding it which creatures you try it with, with different ingredient variations.
Have you tries rearing rhino and stag beetles(US native)? I think you’d be pretty successful at it, you have all the necessary components(rotten wood, rotten leaves, etc)
i just found a western conifer seed bug, and am trying to keep it. they’re considered pests, so i can’t find anything online about what they should eat. do you think this could work as a diet? thanks (:
Thank you for the info! I'm hoping to get some Death feigning beetles in the near future and trying to do as much research as possible First. I was wondering if something could be substituted for the agar as I am very allergic, or if something else would be a better food option for me to use?
You can buy commercial prepared beetle jelly that uses carrageenan instead, or rely on juicy fruits and veggies like apples and carrots for hydration, and use dog kibble as a protein source.
I see a lot of questions, so I will answer: 1. Yes, you can eat this. I don't know why you'd want to, but agar-agar jelly is safe (see: coffee jelly in cafes) to eat & is used for a vegan option for jello foods. Agar is seaweed cellulose. Gecko supplement is gross, though, ahaha. 2. Do not use animal-based gelatins! Most insects that need jellies cannot digest the animal matter! It also rots, stinks & breeds bacteria faster. Use agar-agar as "carrier" for the nutrients for sap-drinking species. The plant agar-agar provides no nutrient, it just holds the sugars for your beetles to lap up with their tongues & harmlessly pass through their bodies. 3. No agar-agar? It's easily available online for human cooking. Again, do not use animal based gelatin! Also, you can use pure REAL maple syrup for beetles as a substitute food, but dilute with water & keep the dishes very clean. Banana slurry with added honey is also popular. Many fruits can usually be used, just try them out & see who likes what. Many beetles also like fresh apple slices, but this is not a good long-term diet & rarely is pulpy enough to feed them well. Always do research. Sources: I breed & keep beetles like D. tityus & S. antaeus.
@@audra6403 This is very late, but yes. His recipe is fine. I was just clarifying to not substitute animal gelatins, because they will melt, carry bacteria & beetles do not like to eat them. Also agar beetle jelly can be kept in the fridge for a week if sealed well, but always check for surface mold. If there is any white, throw it out & make new. It freezes well, but not all beetles like it thawed out because the texture will soften. Some of my girls liked it, others did not. Also if you just cannot get any of this, most beetle species kept in the USA will eat mashed banana mixed with honey & other raw fruits. Just make sure to change them overnight so you don't get gnats or they don't get warm & ferment inside of your tanks. Good luck with beetle keeping, the hobby is small.
Can I use mango for this instead? I have a dubia whose feet fell off and the muscle turned rather odd and splotchy looking inside his legs and they're frozen on the last joint. The only two things he is willing to take now is mango and apple juice. Also, I have this one pinacate beetle who didn't form completely. She's half the size of her mom and one half of her shell is rough and dented and the other side also has a large dent. Half of her legs are short too. She's almost died twice and I noticed both times it was after she ate banana. She had a brown liquid oozing out of her mouth. I haven't given her banana since and she's doing well. All recipes call for banana and that's not possible for her. Her and her mom also seem to be lazy and don't want to eat fruit unless it's ripped into ribbons and fed by hand by holding it under their mouths. I don't do it often as I'm already hand feeding my roach son.
@@Aquarimax Is there any way to make a variety of jellies to make a complete diet for the desert dwelling eleodes? I'm trying to simplify my life, and I've been feeding tropical fish flakes, ground oats, romaine lettuce, and fruit. I'm trying to maximize their life span. I've had a tropical house cricket live for 9 months, and my dubia roach is over two years old. Should I contact entomology at Arizona University for diet help? Sorry, to ask so much. Just looking for help.
Hey Russ, thanks for sharing this recipe, and explaining how to make it in such detail! I have a few questions, so apologies in advance for the lengthy comment. I was wondering how your home made bug jelly compares to the pre-packaged bug jellies sold by Bugs in Cyberspace. I've been ramping up my invert collection quite a bit lately, and have been looking into food/hydration methods that are easier, cleaner and more efficient than veggies (I don't plan to completely replace veggies, but having an easy alternative would be nice). I will definitely try your recipe either way, but, in your experience, does the home made jelly mold easily or will it last a week or two in an enclosure? Also, would this recipe work to hydrate a vinegaroon? My vinegaroon quickly destroys sponges, and I'd rather not buy a constant supply of those quencher gels. Misting is my current go-to to hydrate him, but I'd like to be sure he has constant hydration options without creating excessive humidity in the enclosure. This recipe seems more aimed towards veggie/fruit loving inverts rather than strict carnivores, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. If this recipe is not advised for carnivorous inverts, would you think a simpler recipe using just water and agar could work to make "plain" hydration cubes? Thanks again for all the helpful content, I've learned so much in the few weeks since I discovered your channel!
Estella De Grande Hi Estella, I am happy to help! This homemade jelly, though it works well, doesn’t last as long as the commercial beetle jelly, either in terms of storage shelf life or once it is in the enclosure. The commercial jelly seems to last for weeks as long as it is misted when it starts to dry out. I have not tried either jelly with my Vinegaroon, but it would probably take it, and I don’t think it would be bad for a vinegaroon. However, in terms of an extremely inexpensive and easy hydration source for your vinnie, you can buy Soil Moist crystals. They are exactly the same substance used for hydration gels, but are not yet hydrated. They are much, much cheaper than pre-hydrated gels. I bought an 8-oz bag, and the crystals lasted years of nearly daily use!
@@Aquarimax Thanks so much for the informative reply! I will have to do some tests and comparisons myself, but I love any feeding options that I can make myself in bulk. Perhaps the home-made jelly would be more worth while in price despite the shorter shelf life. As for making a vinnie gel, I wonder if replacing the gecko diet for a bug burger or carnivore repashy diet would work... though the carnivore diets are unbelievably smelly in my experience. 😬 The soil moist gel things are great advise, may be a lifesaver for me! I will give those a try for sure.
I've used organic dyes (vegetable based) with no problem with various animals. I wouldn't use tradition colors, though. That stuff isn't good for us, let alone a little bug!
Kelly Drummond Other than the substrate, I give them big burger weekly, fish food once or twice weekly, and fruits and vegetables...on a sort of random basis. 😊👍
Doesn't work very well. It becomes very watery when thawed & doesn't taste as strong (tasted it myself to even test it), which the beetles don't like nearly as much as fresh. I just keep mine in a silicone mold in my fridge in a partially open ziplock bag (it can dry out without this). The beetles eat it faster than it can spoil in there.
Outdoors And Botanical some of the beetles would probably eat it, and it would be nutritious, I would have some concern that it would be very messy. They might get it all over their faces and legs and then it would get caked with sand. I haven’t tried...
Pro tip: get yourself some silicone gummy molds. After the jelly sets you can pop out the individual servings and have nice uniform jellies; Second tip: if you don't have enough beetles/bugs to use up a full batch of jellies you cannot freeze the jellies, but you can freeze the banana mixture without the agar, then thaw it and boil with agar to make small batches as needed.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing.
When I was an Archaeology student in Arizona back in the early 90s, a few friends and I didn't like how the teams just came in and flattened everything. Removing plants and rocks. We asked if we could go in first and remove and resettle flora and fauna. The beetles were resilient, they just walked back on in like "Yo, what up?" I used to toss apple cores or lettuce on the ground for them. After a while they just sat and waited for veggie lunch cast-offs while we were digging. They were like puppies, they used to stand up and wave antennae when food went by.
Mike Pellerin That is awesome! What you and your friends did to protect the flora and fauna is awesome, and it is also very cool that the beetles learned to anticipate food! By the way, I answered your question at the beginning of yesterday’s video. 😊👍
Man, your pet bugs get the best treatment, including perfectly cooked food!
The Poke'Saurus 😊👍😆 Thanks! I try.
Thanks for referring to my blog, much appreciated. Since that initial small quantity recipe, I now make about 5l of jelly at once, and pour it while it is still hot, into pre-sterilized jars and then store it in the fridge. Unfortunately, with the numbers of beetles that I have now, it does not last long :)
Beetles as Pets You’re welcome, and thank you for the recipe! I like the idea of using pre-sterilized jars. I have toyed with the idea of adding a food-grade mold inhibitor, like the one I use in my fruit fly cultures.
yum! (if your a 'bug' of course) Thanks for sharing Rus! I am sure many 'bugs' will end up being very happy after eating your recipe.
Sean Meister They do seem to like it! 😊👍 I can neither confirm nor deny tasting it myself..,
LOL! well, that is all the confirmation I need! ;-)
Sean Meister bug jelly that you can buy at reptile shops do taste pretty good the ingredients are mostly fruits water and gelatin and some vitamins
Thank you for this tutorial! I've recently been trying to find a good beetle jelly recipe from a trusted source, so this is a dream come true!
macarmenadoree You’re welcome! What kinds of beetles do you keep?
@@Aquarimax Blue Death Feigning! And I'm hoping to add a few more darklings to the tank shortly.
macarmenadoree awesome! In addition to the beetle jelly I give my death feigners fish food and various fruits/veggies.
@@Aquarimax Nice! I've tried them with fish food and mine don't like it. They'll munch on some turtle food here and there, but I swear they're the most picky beetles ever! I've tried them with a ton of stuff and so far they only like banana, cantaloupe, and apple, so I've been trying to find ways to diversify their diet
Blendtec blender, I totally thought of those vids "Will it blend?"
Superstition Serpentarium LOL! 😊👍
Thank you for making this video! I've made your recipe for my madagascar hissing cockroach colony and a few of my cave roaches as a treat, they were VERY interested and were crowding around the little dishes I put down in minutes! The hissers are rather clumsy and often accidentally step into the dishes and get all annoyed, it's cute
my madagascar hissing roach pet loved this 🥺🤎
Glad to hear it! 😊
You're killing me Russ with a metal spoon on that pan! 😆Good recipe this, I also add pear to it. Great video as always :)
Super helpful, thank you! I was inspired by Clint’s Reptiles, Bugs in Cyberspace, and yourself to get my beetles, I appreciate your informative videos!
Thanks to your videos ive decided to get some blue death feigning beetles along with days of research, your the best
Big Boi Awesome! Good on you for doing your research. 👍🏽 I’m sure you’ll enjoy them!
For a preservative if it becomes necessary, potassium sorbate is the one used in repashy foods and you can usually find it at brewing and fermentation supply stores.
If it's ever lumpy, I always add agar powder to cold water since the hot water can make it clump though usually not much beyond a couple small chunks
Good tip!
Found your channel through some of your comments on TheBioDude’s channel, and I sure am glad!! Thanks for your knowledge :)
haleycayanne I am very glad you found my channel as well! Thank you! 😊👍
Interesting video Clint from Clints Reptiles pointed me to your channel so had to subscribe 😉👌
Thanks! I tried it, mine didn't come out 100% perfect, but it has a nice fruit smell.
Your bugs should like it just the same!
Hello there..... I learned a lot from watching your videos ....thank you so much .... Sommer Greetings from Denmark :-)
Tina Nellemann Thrane You’re very welcome, thank you for watching!👍
Thank you for this recipie sadly in the netherlands where i live i couldnt find agar powder only pork gelatin but that came in sheets so i just added two sheets and it kinda worked next time i think i wil add 4
Daan Zoomer Gelatin should also add a little protein, so that can be a good thing 🤣
I'm under the same problem. Can't find Agar powder locally. So any other options?
@@cloranmatt Beetles don't & often can't digest pork gelatin, which is why agar-agar (plant) is used for harmless "carrier" through their bellies. Not sure for scavengers who eat meat parts, but it rots fast & can make them sick. A substitute can just be pureed banana with honey offered in clean milk caps (watch it doesn't mold), or just pure maple syrup, which supposedly is the best food for certain rhino beetle species. Just dilute it with water & offer in a CLEAN sponge & keep it free of mold/bacteria. Beetles eat food with a tongue like a paintbrush.
Thanks for the sheer that was a very educational video that I'm definitely going to give a try
SHAWN Taylor You’re welcome! Let me know how it goes! 😊👍
Thank you! This is great, I hate buying beetle jelly that's expensive and makes so much wasteful trash!
Hello, is there a substitute for agar? I had never heard of it before, and I am having a hard time finding it in the stores.
You might have more luck online. As far as I know there is no readily available substitute.
Thanks for the awesome information Rus😊👍
Dinosaurs Terror World you’re welcome! 👍
I'm a total dumb dumb but I thought this would be made of crushed beetles or something 🤣 this actually looks like it would be tasty.
Sasa K It actually tastes pretty good! Don’t ask me how I know. 🤣👍
Just made this today, hopefully it cools well
[MFS] MarineOP69 As long as it doesn’t get bumped, it should be good! Bon appetit to your invertebrate pets! 👍
It cooled properly and my beetles seem to like it. Very good and easy recipe!
Yes..thank you. Im going to try this
Bregjes Bende You’re welcome!!
Fantastic VelvetAnt
taleandclaw rock Thank you! Velvet ants have become one of my favorite insect species. 🐜 👍
This looks awesome! Think it would do well with springtails?
According To Bush I need to experiment with that! 😊👍
Thanks so much my stag bettle is starving LOL
alex silasi You’re welcome! It will probably feast on this stuff 👍
Hello everyone I’m seeing a lot of good comments on this video so I will try this 😊👍
This is one of the least complicated recipes I have seen - thanks for sharing! I need some velvet ants......
MickieM Thanks Mickie! I adore velvet ants...they are one of my all-tome favorite insects. I wish that they could be bred in captivity and that they had longer lifespans!
Aquarimax Pets Satusaiydydf
Aquarimax Pets Satusaiydydfs
Thats awesome rus ☺☺
Crystal's pets Thanks Crystal! 😊👍
This bug jelly is good for every kind of beetle? Like elephant beetle?
If the beetle will eat soft fruits , nectar, or similar things, it will likely eat this jelly.
hey! i just got two blue death feigning beetles. i just put in a zoomed creature food jelly cup (banana flavor). if i leave it in there will they over eat and die? there’s only two beetles. i’m just worried, how much should i let them eat? it will they be fine
They do not tend to overeat in my experience. They should be fine.
Amazing thats how u do it👍👍how do you keep your beetles warm.thanks
richard brown The lighting (usually 23 watt CFL or 50 watt reptile basking light, depending on enclosure size) works perfectly. 👍
@@Aquarimax hi there oh brilliant thanks i will pass on your message to my friend her tank is 2feet square and 2feet high but her room is not warm enough to keep her beetle warm she does have a 20watt heat matt and would u put that inside the tank aswell as heat bulb to get the high humidity for the bettle.she has the male megasoma elephus elephus giant beetle hes so cool👍👍thanks
richard brown That os a species that can be susceptible to drying out, as I understand it, so a blob might not be the best option.
@@Aquarimax hi there oh i see what do you recommend we should do so a heat bulb is not recommended i take as she was goin to but one. Many thanks Richard
Will this work with dubia/lateralis roach colonies? I would love to use this for them!
Awesome,,, seems so much simpler than others I've seen. Do you think it would work if you substituted the banana with apple, or sweet potato, or carrot, etc?
Eddy Young It’s certainly worth a try! It depends on which beetle species you are working with.
Its not necessarily for beetles. I still have the kids fascination with creepy crawlers, I never outgrew it. I keep many different kinds of critters, and like to experiment with foods etc.
Eddy Young Ah, then we have something in common! 😊👍I would be interested in finding it which creatures you try it with, with different ingredient variations.
I will keep you updated with results.
Eddy Young 👍
This is awesome! Thank you!❤ Could you use gelatin in place of the agar?
Gelatin tends to melt at room temperatures, so it probably would not work as well, but you could try and see how it goes.
Did you try? Would love to hear if it worked out
Thank you so much your a life saver my bugs love it
I just got my beetles yesterday from bugs in cyberspace 2 Armored darkling beetles and 2 rough death feigning beetles and bunch of jelly
Bugs in cyberspace is awesome!m, and they’ve got awesome bugs/supplies
@@Aquarimax one of my rough death feigning beetles was playing dead it was upside down in the cage
Have you tries rearing rhino and stag beetles(US native)? I think you’d be pretty successful at it, you have all the necessary components(rotten wood, rotten leaves, etc)
JustAnotherInsectNerd Not yet, but I think that would be fun!
Would any type of fruit work for this? Or is it specifically bananas?
I haven’t tried others…some would probdbly work
Looks grea! Another awesome footage! Keep it up! :D
The sequal to beetlejuice, beetlejelly
😂
i just found a western conifer seed bug, and am trying to keep it. they’re considered pests, so i can’t find anything online about what they should eat. do you think this could work as a diet? thanks (:
You're the best.
Gelo Pugliatty Thank you!’
Cool
Nature Zone thanks!
Cool thanks for sharing 👍
sketchyfish 1 Thank you! 😊👍
Wouldn’t it be better to jar it like preserves, keep it up to two years, and just spoon it out as needed?
Eric Matthews I haven’t tried canning it...but I use it up fast enough that I need to make it every month or two. 👍 could be worth a try!
Thank you for the info! I'm hoping to get some Death feigning beetles in the near future and trying to do as much research as possible First. I was wondering if something could be substituted for the agar as I am very allergic, or if something else would be a better food option for me to use?
You can buy commercial prepared beetle jelly that uses carrageenan instead, or rely on juicy fruits and veggies like apples and carrots for hydration, and use dog kibble as a protein source.
I see a lot of questions, so I will answer:
1. Yes, you can eat this. I don't know why you'd want to, but agar-agar jelly is safe (see: coffee jelly in cafes) to eat & is used for a vegan option for jello foods. Agar is seaweed cellulose. Gecko supplement is gross, though, ahaha.
2. Do not use animal-based gelatins! Most insects that need jellies cannot digest the animal matter! It also rots, stinks & breeds bacteria faster. Use agar-agar as "carrier" for the nutrients for sap-drinking species. The plant agar-agar provides no nutrient, it just holds the sugars for your beetles to lap up with their tongues & harmlessly pass through their bodies.
3. No agar-agar? It's easily available online for human cooking. Again, do not use animal based gelatin! Also, you can use pure REAL maple syrup for beetles as a substitute food, but dilute with water & keep the dishes very clean. Banana slurry with added honey is also popular. Many fruits can usually be used, just try them out & see who likes what. Many beetles also like fresh apple slices, but this is not a good long-term diet & rarely is pulpy enough to feed them well. Always do research.
Sources: I breed & keep beetles like D. tityus & S. antaeus.
Do you recommend the recipe in the video for D. tityus?
@@audra6403 This is very late, but yes. His recipe is fine. I was just clarifying to not substitute animal gelatins, because they will melt, carry bacteria & beetles do not like to eat them. Also agar beetle jelly can be kept in the fridge for a week if sealed well, but always check for surface mold. If there is any white, throw it out & make new. It freezes well, but not all beetles like it thawed out because the texture will soften. Some of my girls liked it, others did not.
Also if you just cannot get any of this, most beetle species kept in the USA will eat mashed banana mixed with honey & other raw fruits. Just make sure to change them overnight so you don't get gnats or they don't get warm & ferment inside of your tanks. Good luck with beetle keeping, the hobby is small.
My camponotus ants will love this
Ian Brush Let me know how they like it 😊👍
@@Aquarimax Absolutely love the stuff. Both colonies received it yesterday and now it is all gone. What a great mixture
Ian Brush Delighted to hear it! 👏👏👏
Can I use any substitutes for agar powder like cornstarch or something?
Kolorfied good question. I have not tried any other thickening agent. It could be worth a try!
Aquarimax Pets hmm alright I really appreciate the reply’s on old videos
I know this is an old video but what’s your or anybody’s opinion on feeding beetles (blue death feigning beetles) dry dog or cat food?
I do offer fry dog food. Sometimes I soak it in water, and they seem to like that I also offer pre-miles crickets, which is more natural for them
@@Aquarimax thank you
Can I use mango for this instead? I have a dubia whose feet fell off and the muscle turned rather odd and splotchy looking inside his legs and they're frozen on the last joint. The only two things he is willing to take now is mango and apple juice.
Also, I have this one pinacate beetle who didn't form completely. She's half the size of her mom and one half of her shell is rough and dented and the other side also has a large dent. Half of her legs are short too. She's almost died twice and I noticed both times it was after she ate banana. She had a brown liquid oozing out of her mouth. I haven't given her banana since and she's doing well.
All recipes call for banana and that's not possible for her. Her and her mom also seem to be lazy and don't want to eat fruit unless it's ripped into ribbons and fed by hand by holding it under their mouths. I don't do it often as I'm already hand feeding my roach son.
No harm in trying the recipe with mango, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. 👍🏽
@@Aquarimax Is there any way to make a variety of jellies to make a complete diet for the desert dwelling eleodes? I'm trying to simplify my life, and I've been feeding tropical fish flakes, ground oats, romaine lettuce, and fruit. I'm trying to maximize their life span. I've had a tropical house cricket live for 9 months, and my dubia roach is over two years old. Should I contact entomology at Arizona University for diet help? Sorry, to ask so much. Just looking for help.
Don’t breathe this!
It surprises me that something with banana in it would last that long. Maybe because it’s cooked?
Make It Kate That helps, no doubt. It smells like brown sugar, with hints of banana...
My guess would be the honey is a magic ingredient to prevent molding
Even if it wasn't intentional lol
Beardie Brandice oh yeah! I forgot about all of the magical honey properties!
Beardie Brandice i didn’t think about that, but it probably does help
Sir you are awesome.
Do you think repashy can be put in with the jelly?
They might well eat it
Please do a care guide on shell dwelling cichlids
Extra Reptiles You’re in luck, I already have: ruclips.net/video/OdPSt0k4Caw/видео.html
How much is 8.5 in teaspoons ?
Can mealworm beetles eat it?
Yes they can!
Hello, can you feed it to Blatta Lateralis, Dubia Roaches and Crickets? thank you
Jon Clay Descarga my crickets eat it, I expect your roaches would as well. 👍
Hey Russ, thanks for sharing this recipe, and explaining how to make it in such detail! I have a few questions, so apologies in advance for the lengthy comment. I was wondering how your home made bug jelly compares to the pre-packaged bug jellies sold by Bugs in Cyberspace. I've been ramping up my invert collection quite a bit lately, and have been looking into food/hydration methods that are easier, cleaner and more efficient than veggies (I don't plan to completely replace veggies, but having an easy alternative would be nice).
I will definitely try your recipe either way, but, in your experience, does the home made jelly mold easily or will it last a week or two in an enclosure? Also, would this recipe work to hydrate a vinegaroon? My vinegaroon quickly destroys sponges, and I'd rather not buy a constant supply of those quencher gels. Misting is my current go-to to hydrate him, but I'd like to be sure he has constant hydration options without creating excessive humidity in the enclosure. This recipe seems more aimed towards veggie/fruit loving inverts rather than strict carnivores, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask. If this recipe is not advised for carnivorous inverts, would you think a simpler recipe using just water and agar could work to make "plain" hydration cubes?
Thanks again for all the helpful content, I've learned so much in the few weeks since I discovered your channel!
Estella De Grande Hi Estella, I am happy to help!
This homemade jelly, though it works well, doesn’t last as long as the commercial beetle jelly, either in terms of storage shelf life or once it is in the enclosure. The commercial jelly seems to last for weeks as long as it is misted when it starts to dry out. I have not tried either jelly with my Vinegaroon, but it would probably take it, and I don’t think it would be bad for a vinegaroon. However, in terms of an extremely inexpensive and easy hydration source for your vinnie, you can buy Soil Moist crystals. They are exactly the same substance used for hydration gels, but are not yet hydrated. They are much, much cheaper than pre-hydrated gels. I bought an 8-oz bag, and the crystals lasted years of nearly daily use!
@@Aquarimax Thanks so much for the informative reply! I will have to do some tests and comparisons myself, but I love any feeding options that I can make myself in bulk. Perhaps the home-made jelly would be more worth while in price despite the shorter shelf life.
As for making a vinnie gel, I wonder if replacing the gecko diet for a bug burger or carnivore repashy diet would work... though the carnivore diets are unbelievably smelly in my experience. 😬
The soil moist gel things are great advise, may be a lifesaver for me! I will give those a try for sure.
Would the bugs benifet if calcium powder was put into the jelly?
Joe Larsen good question! It depends on the bug. For isopods and millipedes, definitely. For beetles and velvet ants, not so much.
@@Aquarimax thanks
Would this work for bees?
Mandrake Fernflower good question, I’ve never tried it, but I expect so.
Why your terrarium has a cow killer / velvet ant which is walking around in your terrarium ?
I keep them as pets...they are quite interesting. They have a powerful sting, but they are not particularly aggressive.
@@Aquarimax Why the darkling beetles would kill crickets for taking protein from them ?
Can we put food dye in this and have it still insect safe?
I've used organic dyes (vegetable based) with no problem with various animals. I wouldn't use tradition colors, though. That stuff isn't good for us, let alone a little bug!
SlapStyle Anims I agree with MickieM, an organic food-based dye should be a good choice. 👍
Could you add bee pollen to the mix?
Probably...that would add some good nutrients and would likely be well received. Worth a try!
I finally got some agar powder to make this but I couldn't find any dark brown sugar! Would golden brown sugar be okay?
It should be.
@@Aquarimax thx!
What do you mainly feed your isopods? :)
Kelly Drummond Other than the substrate, I give them big burger weekly, fish food once or twice weekly, and fruits and vegetables...on a sort of random basis. 😊👍
@@Aquarimax great thanks :-)
Can you freeze these for longer term storage?
I haven’t tried it...It might change the consistency, but it is worth a try on a small scale.
Doesn't work very well. It becomes very watery when thawed & doesn't taste as strong (tasted it myself to even test it), which the beetles don't like nearly as much as fresh. I just keep mine in a silicone mold in my fridge in a partially open ziplock bag (it can dry out without this). The beetles eat it faster than it can spoil in there.
Could you use just the crested gecko slurry?
Outdoors And Botanical some of the beetles would probably eat it, and it would be nutritious, I would have some concern that it would be very messy. They might get it all over their faces and legs and then it would get caked with sand. I haven’t tried...
Can you substitute corn starch with a little stivia in it
does the fruit have to be a bannana
Probably not, but it is the only one I have tried.
Will this work for crickets? They drown in water
Biz888 i use water crystals for my cricket breeding bin.
Why not include the skin?
Banana skins are often highly contaminated with chemicals intended to kill insects, so using the peel risks exposing the beetles to those chemicals.
Could I use papaya instead of banana?
amsms djsjs I haven’t tried papaya, but it is worth a try.
Are you able to feed these to hissing roaches and crickets? I have a lot and if I'm making this for my millipedes I should use it for my other pets.
Bug Boy Jax I have fed this to crickets successfully, and I suspect your roaches would eat it too. 👍
Aquarimax Pets ok thanks!
OMG I HAVE BLUE FAETING DETH BEETLES I AM GOING TO MAKE IT FOR SHAR
Would warrior beetles like this?
Worth a try as a treat, but if course not as a staple.
Can you freeze it?
I haven’t tried that…
Can human eat this jelly?
Brandon If you choose all food-grade ingredients l, then you can.
Trying this with red runners 🏃♂️
Thanks for the great info :D
Your hands look red and swollen I don’t think that’s good for you D:
Longer spoon may be better
Limbu Nuwa Hang Thanks! I tend not to notice the heat when I am cooking...a longer spoon is a good idea! 😊👍
Would dubia roaches eat this?
I don’t have roaches but I bet they would!
it tastes good? I mean, for humans xD
Good question! LOL
Ever tried this with stag or ox beetles before?
I don’t think I have…
@@Aquarimax think it would work for em