|
|
Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 24, 2016 20:04:35 GMT -5
I just googled the beetles and found a supplier that sells a kit of 8-10 full grown beetles, 6 larvae and two pupae for 24 bucks. 2 questions.... Is that enough beetles for a start, and how fast do you get new beetles accumulated through their breeding? We got our bugs from www.bonesandbugs.com , their smallest colony which is 300+. Took a good couple of weeks to get things going, then I had a heater issue which almost baked them out entirely. Not sure how quickly the colony would grow. We use shredded printer paper for bedding in our box. Just dumped them in  Now, when you open the lid, you can hear them rustling around. |
|
|
|
Post by elkguide on Aug 24, 2016 20:08:31 GMT -5
It can get stinky, we keep this down in my parents pole shed. I would probably not keep it in my garage, as I don't scoop the brains out ahead of time. Heck, my wife won't even let the box on our property period... You're lucky that your wife still lets you on the property hnfn!!!! |
|
|
|
Post by elkguide on Aug 24, 2016 20:11:10 GMT -5
One downside of the beetles is that if you don't kill all of the beetles in the skull that you just finished cleaning and you bring the skull (and beetles) in your house, the beetles just love the hide on mounted animals and sometimes varieties of carpeting and some clothing items!
|
|
|
|
Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 24, 2016 20:18:09 GMT -5
One downside of the beetles is that if you don't kill all of the beetles in the skull that you just finished cleaning and you bring the skull (and beetles) in your house, the beetles just love the hide on mounted animals and sometimes varieties of carpeting and some clothing items! Definitely something to watch out for. I soak all of my skulls in Dawn detergent water for at least a couple of weeks and thoroughly drown them in 40 Volume peroxide. No survivors yet. I know when I brought the skulls back to my house to soak and bleach, I made sure they were double bagged for no hitchhikers. |
|
|
|
Post by fendrick on Aug 24, 2016 21:11:48 GMT -5
The taxidermy class at the local high school freezes the skulls for a week before allowing the kids to take them home.
|
|
|
|
Post by huntnfishnut on Aug 24, 2016 21:14:26 GMT -5
The taxidermy class at the local high school freezes the skulls for a week before allowing the kids to take them home. Not a bad idea either. Eventually I will have to get a separate working freezer if I am going to turn this into something more than a pet project. |
|
|
|
Post by fergeris on Sept 12, 2016 7:22:38 GMT -5
I may look into this more I've been just soaking the heads in water for several months
|
|
|
|
Post by huntnfishnut on Jan 22, 2019 22:23:28 GMT -5
Bugs are dead. They ended up getting a mite infestation in addition to flies. Pulled the plug and froze them out. I’m still doing my own euros but boiling them until I can get a colony again. I don’t like the method but it’s what can be done for now. Here’s the two I did this year. The bigger buck was my Dad’s best archery buck to date. Smaller one is a buddy of mine’s.   |
|
|
|
Post by trial153 on Jan 26, 2019 8:23:46 GMT -5
Bugs are dead. They ended up getting a mite infestation in addition to flies. Pulled the plug and froze them out. I’m still doing my own euros but boiling them until I can get a colony again. I don’t like the method but it’s what can be done for now. Here’s the two I did this year. The bigger buck was my Dad’s best archery buck to date. Smaller one is a buddy of mine’s. They look good. I have to start taking the time to do euros ..I am done mounting things unit a sheep gets arrowed |
|
|
|
Post by huntnfishnut on Jan 26, 2019 8:31:38 GMT -5
Thanks! I definitely need some more mounts but I like these almost as much and a whole lot cheaper!
|
|
|
|
Post by p on Jan 27, 2019 16:16:34 GMT -5
Bugs are dead. They ended up getting a mite infestation in addition to flies. Pulled the plug and froze them out. I’m still doing my own euros but boiling them until I can get a colony again. I don’t like the method but it’s what can be done for now. Here’s the two I did this year. The bigger buck was my Dad’s best archery buck to date. Smaller one is a buddy of mine’s. They look good. I have to start taking the time to do euros ..I am done mounting things unit a sheep gets arrowed Jeez. Poor Victoria is gonna be lonely. 😁 |
|
