We actually have counted and validated the number of adult beetles and larvae in each different dermestid beetle package we offer (the 20k package took a very long time to count) We first separated all the beetles from the frass material and once they were counted out, we then weighed them. This process helped give us a more accurate count of how many beetles we are sending to our customers. Once we receive an order, we proceed by measuring out the respective quantity of adults and larvae and then ADD an additional 10% to account for any mortalities that may occur during shipping. We then add the weighed beetles back into the frass/substrate material. This material can have thousands of eggs that are waiting to hatch which, in turn, will give your colony an extra boost.

The answer really comes down to how quickly you need to complete your project. Starting with a smaller colony of 2,500 beetles will save you money initially, but it will take longer for the colony to grow large enough to clean a deer-sized skull in just a few days. On the other hand, a 10,000 beetle colony can handle a deer skull efficiently right from the start, often cleaning it in as little as 7-10 days under ideal conditions. In contrast, a 2,500 beetle colony might take up to 6 weeks or more to achieve the same result. If you're willing to wait for your colony to grow, the smaller option can be more economical. However, if you need faster results, we recommend opting for the 10,000 beetle colony or larger.

Dermestid beetles can be housed in any container that they cannot chew through or escape from, such as metal, plastic, or glass. Common options include aquarium tanks, used chest freezers, and plastic containers like those made by Sterilite. If you use an aquarium, be sure to remove all silicone from the corners to stop the beetles from climbing out. Any container must have a secure cover to prevent escapes while still allowing ventilation. A well-fitted cover will also keep out foreign insects, protecting your colony from contamination.

Beetles can be fed almost any type of meat, but it's best to avoid processed meats like hot dogs and heavily seasoned or marinated meats. One important tip I’ve learned over the years is to always freeze the meat before feeding it to your beetles. This helps prevent introducing any foreign insects into your colony. Alternatively, you can soak the meat, fully submerged, for 48 hours to achieve the same effect.

Skull Creations offers a Live Arrival Guarantee with every order. To ensure the best quality for our beetles, we ship orders on Mondays and Tuesdays via USPS Priority Mail, which typically takes 2-3 days for delivery. However, we cannot control any delays caused by weather or transportation issues. We ship year-round and tailor our packaging to suit the season and destination. Each order comes with a tracking number so you can plan to receive your package upon arrival.

We make every effort on our part to ensure your order of Dermestid beetles arrive alive and healthy. If there is a problem with your order and you have complied with our conditions, we will work with you for quick resolution. Conditions: It is your responsibility to track the order in the USPS system with the supplied tracking number. We mark all shipments “HOLD AT POST OFFICE FOR PICKUP” USPS will then contact you when the parcel arrives. This greatly increases the chance your beetles arrive alive in extreme weather. It is your responsibility to track the order in the USPS system with the supplied tracking number. If the beetles are held at the Post Office and not picked up within 12-hours of arriving the Live Arrival Guarantee is voided. We always add an additional 10% of beetles in each order to account for any loss that may occur during shipment. If more than 10% of the beetles arrive dead and you have met the conditions of our guarantee, we will work with you to resolve the issue. IF YOU SUSPECT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH YOUR ORDER DO NOT BREAK THE SECURITY SEAL AND CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY. Broken seals will void your Live Arrival Guarantee. For any claims, you must contact us within 2 hours after pickup and provide video to confirm the condition of the beetles. If all conditions are met for the Live Arrival Guarantee, we will either issue a refund for the portion that died, less shipping, or ship you a fresh order equal to the amount that died. Shipping costs are final and are not refunded.

1. Preserves Details Dermestid beetles can eat away at flesh without any damage to the bone and are able to keep all intricate bones intact. This helps preserve the details in the honeycomb bones around the eyes and nose, which can make the mount look more natural. 2. No Discoloration Boiling can cause the fat to melt into the bone, resulting in a yellowish tint that's difficult to remove. Dermestid beetles don't discolor any bone. 3. No Harsh Chemicals Other skull cleaning methods use harsh chemicals that can be dangerous to inhale and burn the skin. Dermestid beetles are an eco-friendly option 4. No Mess Boiling can be messy and smelly, and it usually requires constant supervision. Dermestid beetles can be left unattended to do their work, and they don't release any foul odors. 5. Bone Integrity Boiling can damage and weaken bone integrity and also somewhat shrink the bone. Beetles preserve the bone perfectly and cause literally zero damage to the bone. 6. Fast Depending on the size of the skull, the beetles can complete their work in about 24 hours when you have a full working colony.

Once Skull Creations notifies you that your skull(s) are complete and ready for pick up, we allow two weeks for pick up or for you to arrange shipping/delivery. After the two week period, you will be charged a 25% storage fee. 45 days after we have notified you that your skull(s) are completed, the skulls will then become property of Skull Creations. At that time we will begin the process of selling the skull mount. Please understand that this policy is necessary in order to insure we have prompt pickup of all skulls. If you have special circumstances, please inform us and we will gladly work with you.

Unfortunately, No, a skull should not be boiled. The problem with boiling, is that it will greatly increase your chance of damaging the skull. Boiling an animal’s skull makes the bone brittle and may cause the teeth of the animal to fall out. Also, when a skull is boiled, shrinkage of the skull occurs, and if severe enough it will threaten the structural integrity of the nasal cavity, and eventually the skull itself will fall apart. The shrinkage of the head may also make a difference if the animal skull was being scored for B&C, P&Y, or SCI records

Yes, we do! We work with quite a few sellers from different states. Please contact us for a quote.

1) All skulls will be frozen or soaked (depending on the head) for a minimum of 3 days unless they are frozen when they are received. 2) Skulls will be cleaned of all meat through the use of Dermestid Beetles 3) Cleaned Skulls will be soaked in a degreasing solution for varying amounts of time depending on the animal and how long it takes for all grease to be removed. Final degreasing sometimes requires the use of soaking in 80 degree water. Antlers will be wet during this process. Some color change may occur if the antlers are partially stained from tree rubbing, but the true antler color is not affected by our soaking process. 4) After degreasing, skulls will then be whitened with a peroxide solution . If the skull has antlers, they will be covered at the bases with liquid latex to prevent whitening. If whitening occurs, antlers will be stained back to their original color. 5) Once the skulls are whitened, they will be preserved with Skull Creations bone preservative. This product preserves the interior and exterior bone structure and leaves your trophy with a natural white bone look and feel. 6) We then apply Skull Creations bone sealer to give the skull a polished finish.

Never EVER salt your skulls. Salting your skull does damage to the integrity of your skull and also cannot be cleaned by beetles. Because we care about the quality of skulls and take pride in our work, we will not accept salted skulls. The whitening won't take well and the end product reflects poorly on our business.