Goliath beetle won't relax?

[bumcrumb]

Hi all, I have a 95mm Goliath beetle that was found back in 2014.. I've put it in a relaxing chamber for over 8 days now and his legs still won't move! Any other ideas why or how I can relax the little bugger lol

[exoticimports]

The extremities are the last place moisture gets to. And, the muscles can be dried out completely. Some beetles are difficult to rehydrate.

This has been discussed before, with various methods including submersion and injection. If nobody repeats any of those strategies, do a search.

[livingplanet3]

In my experience, Goliathus specimens take longer to relax than virtually anything else that I've worked with. Other collectors I've spoken with reported the same.

[bumcrumb]

Thanks guys I was just a little worried been wet for over a week...mould etc

[vabrou]

Inject with plain tap water, (hot water unnecessary) the intersection point of legs attached to body 1/2 cc per leg maximum, place back in relaxer for two days. Use chlorocresol in your relaxing chamber and you will never get mold growing, even years later.  I first wrote about this method in 1973.  There weren't any fine gauge hypodermic syringes a half century ago.   You can get disposable insulin syringes at any pharmacy without a prescription.  Get 1cc and up size disposable syringes, WITH 31 gauge needles.  You can reuse the same syringes for years using water.  Some solvents and chemicals will cause the rubber plunger to swell.

[bumcrumb]

Feb 7, 2022 16:50:29 GMT -8 vabrou said:

Inject with plain tap water, (hot water unnecessary) the intersection point of legs attached to body 1/2 cc per leg maximum, place back in relaxer for two days. Use chlorocresol in your relaxing chamber and you will never get mold growing, even years later.  I first wrote about this method in 1973.  There weren't any fine gauge hypodermic syringes a half century ago.   You can get disposable insulin syringes at any pharmacy without a prescription.  Get 1cc and up size disposable syringes, WITH 31 gauge needles.  You can reuse the same syringes for years using water.  Some solvents and chemicals will cause the rubber plunger to swell.
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Thanks ever so much for the help

[Deleted]

With stiff legs, dip a small paint brush in some Gin. Touch each joint of the leg and let the capillary action draw the Gin into the joint. Do each joint a few times, let sit for a few, gently work the joints loose. If not yet moveable, repeat process. I have many Goliath beetles and believe me, it works. This also works w stiff mandibles of Lucaniids etc.

[tv]

Bill, this is a really interesting suggestion. I'm not going to lie, I totally thought this was going to end up being some kind of Casablanca joke about gin joints.