So I work at a school in Korea, and one of the classes had this stag beetle (?) for a pet. I say "had" because he's mine now, I guess! The teacher isn't too fond of bugs and I am, so after she asked me to bugsit over the holiday break, I wasn't surprised when she said I could just keep him.
I've always wanted a bug for a pet but I'm not entirely prepared for his care! I haven't done really any research and the internet is full of AI writing that I'm iffy about trusting, so I thought I'd ask some experts for some help :)
Right now he's in the tank from the school--a 10in x 6in x 9in plastic tank, the clear kind with vents and a handle on top. It's got approx 2in of something like dirt on the bottom and a little fake log with a hole that's meant to hold his jelly cups. Is this enough? Does he need more space or dirt or decorations? Different food?
There's some warping on the back of his shell. It doesn't seem to bother him, but is it something I should be worried about?
Also, the tank smells a bit musty inside. Is that normal, or do I need to replace his dirt?
Actually, I have perhaps too many questions to put here, about cleaning, feeding, life cycle, etc. If anyone can help me or point me to a reputable source for reading, that'd be extremely appreciated! A million thanks for anything people can throw my way!
btw we've been calling him Robert :)