Oak Flake Soil Cup

Description

The oak flake soil cup has a volume of eight ounces. This deli cup consists of 100% medium to soft decay oak wood flakes. This is the premium grade product we use to raise all our rhino, stag, flower beetle, and Chrysina larvae before offering them up for sale. It is also eaten by many other kinds of arthropods including millipedes and isopods. It consists of finely ground fermented oak wood.

This freeze treated product costs $6 per cup. You are welcome to drop your larvae directly into these cups upon arrival. Just spoon out (and save) a quarter inch or so off the top so that the larva had some room to move around. It is a great sized “home” for most first, second and even early third instar larvae. If you do plan to put a larva directly into the cup you will want to punch some holes into the lid, but from the inside-out. I typically use a thumb tack and of course it creates sharp and abrasive little nubs as it exits the plastic. Better that those are on the outside of the cup than on the inside where your pet might rub against them.

If your larva is turning the soil with some consistency, waste gases are less likely to build up and in combination with some ventilation and that quarter inch or so of air space at the top of the cup between the soil surface and the lid of the cup. The flake soil should never get dry or be so wet that water droplets could be pressed or squeezed out of it. Opening the lid from time to time to add a little bit of water and turning the soil with a spoon may be helpful in dissipating any gases.

When to change out the substrate for fresh substrate is sort of a matter of opinion, or finances. Even if all your flake soil becomes frass (frass/poop), your beetle will not starve immediately. However, if you want to grow the biggest beetles possible, it is wise to have plenty of edible flake soil in your cup at all times.

If you are buying multiples but only using one cup, you can freeze extra cups to prevent fungus gnats and other pests from taking up residence in your stored flake soil.