Where to get good dung for dung beetles?

beetlequeen

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 3, 2015
Messages
8
For those of you keeping dung beetles, where do you get good dung? I can't seem to find a good source. I'd really like to start breeding Phanaeus vindex rainbow dung beetles, but I don't have any herbivorous animals as pets and the local horse ranch uses a lot of supplements I'm worried would harm them. Does anyone have any suggestions?
 

TypicalCricket

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 15, 2015
Messages
47
Poopsenders, maybe? Not the most efficient way, and depending on how much dung a colony of beetles can go through it could be pretty expensive, but depending on where exactly you are at it might be the best way. You could maybe ask a local zookeeper to save a nugget or two for you or look for a cattle farm and ask them. Particularly if it's an organic cattle farm, they will have primo poo and probably wouldn't mind giving you a patty or two.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,044
DANGER! And this applies to 'organic' as well. Horse and dairy farms commonly use chemicals like Equitrol. These chemicals are considered non toxic. Fed to the animals they sterilize insects that feed on or come in contact with the animals feces. Probably safer to hit up a rancher or farmer that appears to not give a rodents rectum about having mountains of dung and flies around than a neat and sanitary place.
 

pannaking22

Arachnoemperor
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 25, 2011
Messages
4,226
As odd as it sounds, you could use your own if you aren't taking any medications. I know some people have used there own for various species and had success. Worst comes to worst, you could ask that local farmer what the supplements he uses are and research if they could harm your beetles.

I agree with Snark here as well. There have been some good papers out recently that describe how chemicals fed to animals influence dung beetle populations.
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,044
Oh yes. Be darned sure you don't get dung from a commercial cattle operation. They are required by law in some locales to spray the dung, several hundred tons every day with some operations, with insecticide. (Public nuisance abatement ordinances) Their poison sprayers can rival some of the heavier duty fire suppression pumps.
 
Last edited:

beetlequeen

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 3, 2015
Messages
8
Haha, unfortunately I do take a couple prescriptions that would probably have a negative effect on them... plus I'm also hoping to not have to deal with that kind of smell. I know herbivore poop is generally a bit less... offensive.

As odd as it sounds, you could use your own if you aren't taking any medications. I know some people have used there own for various species and had success. Worst comes to worst, you could ask that local farmer what the supplements he uses are and research if they could harm your beetles.

I agree with Snark here as well. There have been some good papers out recently that describe how chemicals fed to animals influence dung beetle populations.


---------- Post added 05-22-2015 at 11:46 PM ----------

Unfortunately Poopsenders would get pretty expensive, but I'll definitely check with my local zoo! Thanks for the suggestion, I don't know why I didn't think of that!

Poopsenders, maybe? Not the most efficient way, and depending on how much dung a colony of beetles can go through it could be pretty expensive, but depending on where exactly you are at it might be the best way. You could maybe ask a local zookeeper to save a nugget or two for you or look for a cattle farm and ask them. Particularly if it's an organic cattle farm, they will have primo poo and probably wouldn't mind giving you a patty or two.


---------- Post added 05-22-2015 at 11:48 PM ----------

Thanks for the warnings, I had heard about horse farms, but was unsure of dairy farms. I hope I can find something at my local zoo that's not too full of chemicals!

DANGER! And this applies to 'organic' as well. Horse and dairy farms commonly use chemicals like Equitrol. These chemicals are considered non toxic. Fed to the animals they sterilize insects that feed on or come in contact with the animals feces. Probably safer to hit up a rancher or farmer that appears to not give a rodents rectum about having mountains of dung and flies around than a neat and sanitary place.


---------- Post added 05-22-2015 at 11:52 PM ----------

Haha, I would, but I think my husband would divorce me! :biggrin:

Or you could spend all day eating alfalfa sprouts. Bahaha
 

Blue Jaye

Arachnobaron
Joined
Sep 16, 2013
Messages
339
Try LPS that carry tortoise or a zoo I'm sure a zoo keeper could hook you up with some good dung zoos usually don't use chemicals but some could use antibiotics . I would ask a keeper see what he or she says.
 

14pokies

Arachnoprince
Joined
Oct 25, 2014
Messages
1,735
Maybe try your local petstore(s) if they are clean and trust worthy... I imagine rabbit droppings and possibly tortoise poop would work.. You are most likely located closer to a LPS than a zoo and there is no admittance fee to ask for poop at the LPS!

As other members suggested make sure the animals aren't being medicated or being given supplements that will hurt the beetles....

I have never kept dung beetles so this is just an idea check with a few of the other members that have posted...

---------- Post added 05-23-2015 at 06:15 AM ----------

Try LPS that carry tortoise or a zoo I'm sure a zoo keeper could hook you up with some good dung zoos usually don't use chemicals but some could use antibiotics . I would ask a keeper see what he or she says.
Great minds think a like... You type faster! I hate you! Hahahah!
 

beetlequeen

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 3, 2015
Messages
8
Haha, thank you both for the suggestion! :giggle:

Maybe try your local petstore(s) if they are clean and trust worthy... I imagine rabbit droppings and possibly tortoise poop would work.. You are most likely located closer to a LPS than a zoo and there is no admittance fee to ask for poop at the LPS!

As other members suggested make sure the animals aren't being medicated or being given supplements that will hurt the beetles....

I have never kept dung beetles so this is just an idea check with a few of the other members that have posted...

---------- Post added 05-23-2015 at 06:15 AM ----------



Great minds think a like... You type faster! I hate you! Hahahah!

Try LPS that carry tortoise or a zoo I'm sure a zoo keeper could hook you up with some good dung zoos usually don't use chemicals but some could use antibiotics . I would ask a keeper see what he or she says.
 

DETHCHEEZ

Arachnosquire
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
71
Not sure about the medication thing / If they give them anything that would be harmful to the beetles or not

But if you have any horse stables or equestrian centers near you give them a try
They usually have goats & rabbits & what not running around there too
&
Most are more that happy to give you as much free poop as you want
+
You don't have to feel weird about having to ask some one for poo / LOL
Cause they let gardeners pick up as much as they want for compost
Guess it's easier for them to give it away than having to clean it up or deal with it themselves
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,044
I just had a moment of clarity. If you have dairy's in your area they are heavily restricted as to what, if any, chemicals go into the animals.

When I think back over my years working at ranches and stables... 'Yes, we have chemical free poo. How many tons do you want?' I once drove a Massey Fergusen tractor to death trying to clean up a neglected horse stable. It finally took a D8 Caterpillar a week to get the place clean enough to put up for sale. Ever try to hide a 30 foot tall half a football field sized poop mountain?
 

Blue Jaye

Arachnobaron
Joined
Sep 16, 2013
Messages
339
Hello again , so I don't know why I didn't think of this yesterday but I spend a lot of time in the desert and there are wild mule and horses out there . I could collect some fresh dung and send it to you if you like . While I'm being serious I'm still laughing that I'm offering to collect and send you some dung lmao . Pm me if your interested lol
 

beetlequeen

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 3, 2015
Messages
8
I do actually have a lot of dairy farms in my area! I'll have to call around and see what I can find, thank you!

I just had a moment of clarity. If you have dairy's in your area they are heavily restricted as to what, if any, chemicals go into the animals.

When I think back over my years working at ranches and stables... 'Yes, we have chemical free poo. How many tons do you want?' I once drove a Massey Fergusen tractor to death trying to clean up a neglected horse stable. It finally took a D8 Caterpillar a week to get the place clean enough to put up for sale. Ever try to hide a 30 foot tall half a football field sized poop mountain?
 

Wadew

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 14, 2005
Messages
417
The easiest thing to do like mentioned before is get a rabbit!
 

beetlequeen

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 3, 2015
Messages
8
I'd prefer to find someone else with a rabbit, haha. I would feel bad for an animal I basically kept for the poop, since I have no interest in rabbits on their own.

The easiest thing to do like mentioned before is get a rabbit!
 

BeetleExperienc

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
166
Adults will eat a number of things, including rabbit pellets, dog food or beetle jelly, but for breeding you will need dung from a larger animal. I'm sure someone has a pot-bellied pig as a pet near you, and Phanaeus LOVE pig poop.


Good Luck!
Steven Barney
 

The Snark

Dumpster Fire of the Gods
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 8, 2005
Messages
11,044
Adults will eat a number of things, including rabbit pellets, dog food or beetle jelly, but for breeding you will need dung from a larger animal. I'm sure someone has a pot-bellied pig as a pet near you, and Phanaeus LOVE pig poop.


Good Luck!
Steven Barney
Probably best if pig excrement is avoided. Way too many undesirable organisms in it. Called bacterial time bomb by a pathologist.
 

Anubis77

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 15, 2005
Messages
281
The easiest thing to do like mentioned before is get a rabbit!
Rabbit droppings actually work? I have an endless supply on my floor, but didn't think it was useful for dung beetles. Wouldn't mind some P. vindex.
 

BeetleExperienc

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 18, 2005
Messages
166
I use pig all the time, mainly for trapping. I collect it at the local zoo and it works wonders for attracting dung beetles. I imagine wild pig/boar would be potentially more dangerous than pet pig dung.

Rabbit does I think work, but only as adult food, they won't oviposit in it.
 
Top