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u/Cool2s

Image 1 — Second Captive Bred Beetle Reaches Adulthood!
Image 2 — Second Captive Bred Beetle Reaches Adulthood!
Image 3 — Second Captive Bred Beetle Reaches Adulthood!
Image 4 — Second Captive Bred Beetle Reaches Adulthood!
Image 5 — Second Captive Bred Beetle Reaches Adulthood!
▲ 140 r/BDFB

Second Captive Bred Beetle Reaches Adulthood!

I officially have my second captive bred BDFB!

They emerged (eclose? eclosed?) yesterday. I've been checking on them daily after discovering that it had pupated, and I'm very very happy to see that it was completely successful!

It took around 20 days for this one to fully form give or take, assuming I found it the very day it had pupated but it very well could have been a few days longer. My current theory is that 20-30 days is how long to expect future beetles to take before reaching adulthood. I did not check this one's antenna to verify if it was a male vs female, but this one is definitely bigger than my first captive bred beetle but it is slightly smaller than most of the females in my BDFB enclosure.

I didnt handle this one for very long as I didnt want to stress them out or risk injury to them incase they were still soft anywhere. I added it to the enclosure with the rest of my BDFBs to give it room and spaces to hide with more climate control than their previous cup.

I'm noticing that behavior between adult beetles and newly emerged beetles is interesting. Newly emerged beetles seem uninterested in socialization and avoid interaction with other beetles. The other adult beetles were not immediately interested in them upon introduction but one tried inspecting this new beetle, which prompted it to slowly find somewhere more secluded to call home for the time being. If anyone hasn't seen my previous post about my original captive bred beetles current status, he also has the tendency to be less active and less social than the other beetles. Time will tell if their behavior will vary with age or not.

Currently, none of the other larvae have shown signs of pupating yet, but there are definitely other large ones that have a good chance. One of the larger larvae have been at the surface for longer than they usually stay there, around a few days I believe, and I am anticipating and hoping that one will pupate next.

So far I'm very happy with my captive bred beetle progress! None of the pupae in my care have not reached adulthood, albiet there have only been two, I hope my success record continues. :)

u/Cool2s — 1 day ago
▲ 125 r/BDFB

Just Hatched to Blue Adult Progress

Hello! As others had suggested, here is a small frame of the color progression on my captive bred BDFB. The red color unfortunately does not last very long but it was super cool while it lasted. This little guy is doing really well so far!

His mannerisms are a tad different than the other BDFB I have. I cant tell if it is somehow due to being captive bred, due to him being so much smaller than the others, or just because he's young and strange and just learning how to be a beetle.

He is less likely to be social with the others and never seems to intentionally initiate contact or social behavior with another beetle. He's more likely to be hiding somewhere secluded or under something. Much to my surprise, when I was moving some decor, I even found him an inch or more under the sand directly underneath a small corkbark log which I haven't ever seen my other BDFB do before! I was digging around in the substrate looking for eggs and I was very shocked when I dug him up instead. I dont see him wandering around too often but its always pleasant to see him out and about.

u/Cool2s — 2 days ago
▲ 15 r/crueltyfree

Need a Good Silk Eye Mask/Pillow Alternative

Just as the title says, I am looking for a relatively ethical alternative to mulberry silk eye masks. Bonus for alternatives to silk pillow cases too.

My requirements have resulted in absolutely zero products that fit. Those requirements being:

- Wrap around (no thin band/thin strap)

- 100% plastic/polymer free *fabric/material*. It can have a Velcro piece but none of the parts that touch skin can be plastic or polymers.

- Has the same benefits for skin/hair as silk. I.E. not abrasive, gentle enough to prevent wrinkles and hair breakage

- Is long lasting. No coatings or treatments that require it to be replaced regularly (or no more than once a year at the very least).

As stated above, I haven't found a single item to fit this. I've searched for alternative silk materials but all prompts for lotus silk, pineapple silk, banana silk, etc just result in a million listings for pineapple print mulberry silk eye masks. Every other material seems to be either made with plastics/polymers which can have a negative impact on health, too abrasive and rough on skin/hair (& w/ no evidence to back up not being too abrasive), or coated/treated in a way that does not allow the softness to be long lasting which makes low-waste in the process of replacing the materials near impossible.

I know the general consensus is that Ahimsa or Peace Silk is not cruelty free. Albeit my research has been short, Ahimsa created specifically by Rajaiah Kuduma is not cruelty free. Reported on by B.W.C. - India. Are there not other ethical producers of actual Ahimsa silk that follow the real idea behind it or is that just a lie? I am not as familiar with cocooning invertebrates, but as someone with experience in caring for inverts, I have seen ethical practice of releasing moths so I assume it can be done? Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not arguing the ethics of using any animal byproduct as much as I'm curious about if there is a possibility that Ahimsa can be created without actual impact on a silk moths health/wellbeing even if they're kept in captivity.

In any case, I would like to find an alternative that is gentle/beneficial to skin and hair while not in any way a plastic in fabric/material, as those materials seem to be far too common in the vegan/cruelty free circles I have visited. Despite it seemingly having many harmful impacts on health for both humans and animals. As well as its harmful impacts on the environment as a whole.

My attempt at being low waste, low or zero-plastic, and vegan/vegetarian/cruelty free seems to come up unfruitful very very very frequently. Is anyone here able to give me a hand?

(Sorry if any of this sounds confusing, I'm sleep deprived AF right now because I've been trying to put together a plastic free/cruelty free/eco-friendly home good alternatives list lmao. I might cross post this in other subreddits too.)

reddit.com
u/Cool2s — 7 days ago
▲ 1 r/PlasticFreeLiving

Just as the title says, I am looking for a relatively ethical alternative to mulberry silk eye masks. Bonus for alternatives to silk pillow cases too.

My requirements have resulted in absolutely zero products that fit. Those requirements being:

- Wrap around (no thin band/thin strap)

- 100% plastic/polymer free *fabric/material*. It can have a Velcro piece but none of the parts that touch skin can be plastic or polymers.

- Has the same benefits for skin/hair as silk. I.E. not abrasive, gentle enough to prevent wrinkles and hair breakage

- Is long lasting. No coatings or treatments that require it to be replaced regularly (or no more than once a year at the very least).

As stated above, I haven't found a single item to fit this. I've searched for alternative silk materials but all prompts for lotus silk, pineapple silk, banana silk, etc just result in a million listings for pineapple print mulberry silk eye masks. Every other material seems to be either made with plastics/polymers which can have a negative impact on health, too abrasive and rough on skin/hair (& w/ no evidence to back up not being too abrasive), or coated/treated in a way that does not allow the softness to be long lasting which makes low-waste in the process of replacing the materials near impossible.

I know the general consensus is that Ahimsa or Peace Silk is not cruelty free. Albeit my research has been short, Ahimsa created specifically by Rajaiah Kuduma is not cruelty free. Reported on by B.W.C. - India. Are there not other ethical producers of actual Ahimsa silk that follow the real idea behind it or is that just a lie? I am not as familiar with cocooning invertebrates, but as someone with experience in caring for inverts, I have seen ethical practice of releasing moths so I assume it can be done? Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm not arguing the ethics of using any animal byproduct as much as I'm curious about if there is a possibility that Ahimsa can be created without actual impact on a silk moths health/wellbeing even if they're kept in captivity.

In any case, I would like to find an alternative that is gentle/beneficial to skin and hair while not in any way a plastic in fabric/material, as those materials seem to be far too common in the vegan/cruelty free circles I have visited. Despite it seemingly having many harmful impacts on health for both humans and animals. As well as its harmful impacts on the environment as a whole.

My attempt at being low waste, low or zero-plastic, and vegan/vegetarian/cruelty free seems to come up unfruitful very very very frequently. Is anyone here able to give me a hand?

(Sorry if any of this sounds confusing, I'm sleep deprived AF right now because I've been trying to put together a plastic free/cruelty free/eco-friendly home good alternatives list lmao. I might cross post this in other subreddits too.)

reddit.com
u/Cool2s — 7 days ago
▲ 120 r/BDFB

If you see my last post you'll know I just had my first captive bred BDFB make it to his final stage as a beetle!

I'm very excited to say the other larvae in my care are now beginning to pupate. I plan on documenting the process as best I can. So far what I can say is that this was an immobile and very large larvae sitting on top of the soil just a night or two ago and here it is now!

I'm looking forward to welcoming a second adult blue death feigning beetle into the world and I'm hoping there are more to come with my other larvae.

u/Cool2s — 20 days ago