#wiggler asks

[the-grub-hub]

hey!! still asking about pupating, sorry. i just wanna make sure im doing everything right and dont flunk up their development. how will the grubs escape from their cocoon? like, do i need to put some cushions underneath it or will they climb out and hop off just fine on their own?

...

Oh damn.

Uh, Luxane here!

Gotta say, we aren’t exactly...careful with children on Alternia.

So first of all, I would like to sincerely thank you for bringing up some hitherto unaddressed concerns. I hope that you’re grateful that you live on a planet where this sort of consideration is natural!

The reason I was so concerned earlier was because cocoons on Alternia are rarely low-hanging enough to be jostled. And in our first attempt at a grub sanctuary, where we didn’t have stalactites, the children in the cocoons that fell or were moved too much...didn’t turn out very healthy. Usually by the time that they emerge, they are sturdy enough to handle things on their own - though we do always have a couple of young trolls in the brood who end up with scrapes or bruises from getting down.

...

I’m sorry, I just...can’t fucking BELIEVE we never thought of putting down cushions! WHAT THE FUCK? FUCKING...LIKE

We’d just look at the injured kids like “oh yeah oof welp put a band-aid on that I guess”

FUCKING CUSHIONS

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN SO EASY

Sure. You should do that. Go ahead. I’m going to send Tybian and Merser out right fucking now to go pick up cushions for the Moses, actually.

About your kids, they’ll be able to get out of the cocoon just fine on their own. You can help them out if you want, I guess...it is an arduous process, but we typically leave them alone for it. Helps them grow stronger.

Fucking cushions...

[the-grub-hub]

good to know that its supposed to be a week because my dear lucien may or may not have neen just on time to build his coocoon somewhere a little less convenient

he managed to stick right to the lightbulb, and im not sure what i should do. its the light right above the kitchen table. should i just leave the coocoon be and not use that light for a while or is there a way i can move him without harming the coocoon? im fine with leaving him there and not using the light, i just want to know if thats the right choice.

Luxane here

First of all the whole crew is fucking dying laughing right now so thank you.

Provided the lightbulb is tightly screwed in and the fixture is secure, that should be just fine. Do keep in mind that his coccoon will actually increase in weight throughout his metamorphosis, so I would reccommend making sure that the light fixture can bear that much weight.

In all seriousness, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE HIM. Avoid bumping into the coccoon or jostling it in any way. I would actually recommend moving the table from underneath the cocoon and eating somewhere else for a while, just to be safe. Your child is developing very rapidly right now, and the position that he is in physically is the only one suited for his development. You CANNOT let him fall - his brain is extremely vulnerable in this state, and located right at the bottom of the coccoon.

Warnings aside, I’m fairly certain that everything will turn out fine. He is of a very durable caste. But do be alert when he emerges - young trolls will typically try to go “out and up,” and get their bearings while perched on their stalactite. Indigos are quite sturdy, but your light fixture might not be.

Best of luck to you!

[the-grub-hub]

you mentioned something about pupating, are there any signs that a grub is about to pupate? if so, what should i look out for and what do i do when they pupate? (like do i have a set place for them to do so or..?)

Hello! Luxane here. Sorry for the delay, it’s been, uh.

It’s been a fucking lot. It’s been a lot.

This is an EXCELLENT question, first of all, so thank you for allowing me to answer it.

Grubs pupate very soon after they are born - about a week, though there are always some who are ready sooner or later than this. You can tell its happening when they start to look around for a stalactite to spin their cocoons on. If you don’t naturally have stalactites where you live, try to find some alternative, or make one. On the Moses we’ve been working hard to make artificial stalagmite rows and fasten them to the ceiling. But if you have a small enough amount of grubs, it might be sufficient to hammer some nails through a table, and let them build on the underside.

Expect pupation to last for about a week. The cocoon will start about two feet long, but grow to three feet throughout the process.

The young troll that emerges will be about three feet tall, with a bipedal four-limbed structure and two pairs of grubscars along their ribs. (These are the remnants of their grub legs, and will be the same color as their blood.) After pupation, they will be very hungry and in need of a bath - not to mention some clothing!

This is all I can think of off the top of my head - let me know if you have any more questions.