chest freezer

[justinj]

I just switched my beetles over from an aquarium to a chest freezer.  the deal is the people I got the freezer from stored gas cans in it.  So it smelled like gas but I bleached it out and let it air out a couple of days.  dumped my beetles in and closed it up.  It does have a vent but when i opened it it still smells pretty bad.  and i looks like about 3/4 of my beetles are dead.  I am not sure if they are dead from dumping them right out of my aquarium or the gas.  Has anyone ever transfered a colony before and had this happen or do I have to get them out of there?

[bulldog4949]

what is the temp in the beetle box?  Are they dead, or just cold and hibernating?  Are they skins or actual beetles?  Did you let them acclimate before dumping?  Was there gas in the bottom that may have leaked out?  etc..... several things could be wrong.

All of these ?'s are important.  Answer them and then we can help you further.  Thanks.-Josh

[justinj]

i keep my beetles about 80 degrees.  no there was no spilled gas, like i said I washed it out and let it air out but it still stinks when its closed for awhile.  they are dead they turned white and look like wax worms.

[bulldog4949]

dang......not sure.  Never seen this happen.  Maybe the smell of the gas suffucated them.  not sure.  maybe some others have a thought.

[Colonel]

I am not sure but I would suggest in getting whats left out NOW before they all die.

I imagine the gas had soaked into the freezer walls and there is still enough residue that it is toxic to the bugs. It is extremely hard to rid the smell of gas from anything once it has been exposed to it.

Whatever you do or decide, Good Luck!!

[justinj]

noby ever just had a bunch die from transfering?

[justinj]

i mean nobody

[Colonel]

I didn't even let my freezer get up to temp when i dumped mine in and never had an issue. It was about 60 degrees outside and I took my tank out of the house and just dumped it in the freezer and let it warm up with them in it.

[justinj]

crap

[bulldog4949]

I had a guy gift me thousands, and I mean thousands.  I had my freezer set up (mine was brand new, got lucky it had a bad compressor..got it cheap), and transferred them in, and they are thriving.  I bet I have doubled them in the last month or so.  Cleaning a hog in 2 days.  

I am like Colonel, get them out while you still have some left.  Start an aquarium and start over.  Do you have mites on them?  Crazy and bizarre to say the least.

[justinj]

no mites.  I finally had my colony to the point they were doing deer in 2 days.  I got a bull and 2 buffalo a guy wanted done so I had to switch.  There is one other thing it could be but I might just be hopefull.  I have never dug in the bottom of my aquarium, are there typcally a lot of dead bugs?  maybe I just turned it all and my beetles are in shock and in hiding?

[bulldog4949]

I have heard (don't know how much truth) but it takes them a day or 2 to acclimate.  There are usually alot of skins from them molting.  Is this what you are seeing, or ARE they for sure bugs?

Sucks, but there has to be a reason.

[justinj]

definatily bugs

[Colonel]

I hope that is all it is Justin. I hate to hear about anyone losing bugs cause it bothers me thinking that I could lose mine at some point...

[justinj]

ithink i'll just keep an eye on em for a couple of days.  I switched my heat lamp and thermostat and every thing else to the freezer so my aquaruim is empty.  but i should set that back up too,  and put some back just in case i suppose.  I'll let you know what happens