There are ventilation areas, but just my concern is that is still plastic container. If you are lucky, you can buy them from your local pet store or online store. Feed her with beetle jelly. The smeared feces release bacteria, which help the grubs to digest some substrates before the grubs feed on them. }, Mites certain mites in the soil can feed on the eggs while some parasitize the grubs. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ive compiled my learning from keeping rainbow stag beetles in this guide and hope that it helps you. The stag beetle can reach lengths of 5 inches with its mandibles, but they average 2 inches in length. Since stag beetles can fly into lawns or tunnel underground, controlling them is hard work. http://jeb.biologists.org/content/14/3/364, http://insects.about.com/od/insects101/f/Do-Insects-Feel-Pain.htm, http://www.cell.com/trends/immunology/abstract/S1471-4906(04)00091-2, this unofficial explanation on the Japanese Yahoo Answers site. It can tolerate temperatures as high as 86 F (30 C) and as low as 50 F (10 C). illustrated by Des Helmore So in this practical care guide, we will look at how to care for your stag beetles. Be careful not to make the soil too wet. Beetles As Pets - A great blog with lots of details of how to take care of beetles as well as a supply of larvae and adult beetles. Kuwagatamushi make up for this by having longer lifespans. They wont eat anything else so without a good substrate they wont survive. Some climbing opportunities like twigs and branches are very appreciated by your beetles. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. To improve the survivability of your beetles, pay attention to the following: Substrate make sure the substrate you use is pesticide-free and fertilizer-free. These amazing creatures used to be a common sight, especially in the south of the UK, but sadly they are declining. Where are stag beetles commonly found? Btw, I dont have a translation for breeding or raising stag beetle larva, but if you can get Google Translate to help you this website and this website may help. The adult beetle also known as the imago is only one of the four stages of the beetle life cycle. Travel and Lifestyle Advice Centered on Tokyo, Japan. However, to prevent exhaustion from repeated mating, separate the male and female beetles after they mate. Also, natural indirect sunlight entering the room where your animals are kept is a good option to provide a natural photoperiod. Continue with Recommended Cookies, A blog on extraordinary, non-conventional pets. If youd like to know how to care for a rhinoceros beetle (kabuto mushi), check outthis link. Apparently, Japan-specific stag beetles are in danger of extinction, because of interbreeding with imported stag beetles and loss of habitat. We just found our kuwagata crawling around on hot concrete and very sad to read they are almost extinct in the wild. Which species lives that long? Beetles often have dani around their leg and body joints. Be careful when placing a male together with a female, and for some species, it is better to separate them after breeding is successful. The giant stag beetles of Japan are sometimes called "black diamonds" for the shininess of the exoskeleton. I couldnt ask him what to feed because I dont know how to ask him in Nihonggo, all I know is, its was beetle but I just found out from google that its was a stag beetle kind and I saw some clip on youtube of a rhino beetle fed with an orange, we only have a grapes, apples and oranges in our fridge so I just decided to give our little friend a little bit of orange, I hope shes gonna eat it, do you think it can be a substitute for jelly just for the meantime? Dorcus Oita The beetle may refuse to feed on Kinshi if it was transferred from flake soil. Time limit is exhausted. Surprisingly, some stores sell dried leaves for beetle cases. Ive heard of some people picking the mites off the beetle one by one with tweezers, though, which is one time-consuming way to go about it. Copyright 2023 Keeping Bugs. A commercial product that is accepted very well is beetle jelly. Also, I was told (but may not be true, if not, please tell me) that the kabuto should be picked up by the horn because the rest of the body is prickly and will hurt to touch. Japanese Giant Stag Beetle Giant stag beetles are one of the largest beetles in the US. For most of their lives, they live underground in the substrate. Specimens that are kept as pets are generally around 5cm (2). i got decent knowledge on keeping beetles, and handling ticks. I had a lot of fun putting this together. The beetles are a little prickly, but I prefer a little bit of discomfort to risking breaking the beetles horn. The male beetle is comparatively bigger than the female stag beetle. Again, I dont know how safe those methods are for kabutomushi or humans. Always check with your local authorities for the requirements, and comply with it. tea The survival rate and breeding success increase when keeping larvae singular. Dorcus parallelus, commonly known as the Antelope Stag Beetle, is a species of beetle in the family Lucanidae, and the only representative of the genus Dorcus in Canada. visa. Don't place them in direct sunlight. But ive never took care of a stag beetle, i didnt know that these guys live WAY longer than the kabuto mushi till i clicked this part of your article (i always read your kabuto mushi guide), which makes me happy to welcome a new pinchy friend for the coming years! The lifespan seems to depend a lot on the species. Never forcefully pull the beetles from a surface they grasp because that may break their legs. They prefer 20 to 25 degrees Celsius (68 degrees to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Stag beetles have a shiny black head and thorax (middle section), and chestnut-brown wing cases. They are easy to keep and a colourful beetle species. A commercial product that is accepted very well is beetle jelly. You should consider feeding your beetles with beetle jelly. Place the adult beetles in ventilated containers, and feed them with beetle jelly. You can buy most of these items, including the case, bedding, food, branches, food dishes, and humidifier, at home-and-garden centers and 100 yen stores. Im interested in attempting to maintain a couple of kuwagatas and try to get them to lay eggs, that way I can continuously breed them and keep them going. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Beetles are insects with an essential role in nature and can be an interesting pet under the right conditions. They also have huge mandibles and can grow up to 2.5 inches in length (including the length of the mandibles). While the adult beetles are protected with a thick layer of armor, you want to be gentle when handling them. if ( notice ) Here is a recipe for beetle jelly that you can follow to prepare the beetle jelly.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'xtraordinarypets_com-leader-1','ezslot_20',174,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-xtraordinarypets_com-leader-1-0'); The giant stag beetles do not eat much. One more note: In full disclosure, I wasnt very good about keeping my apartment low on humidity. Beetle humidifiers are called kirifuki (). You might be familiar with flake soil, which is the substrates used for many beetle grubs. They feed on dead wood for several years before they are ready to pupate and develop into an adult beetle. Hence, additional water supply is not necessary. Stag beetles will often fall over on their back. Female beetles are smaller in size and have much smaller pincers. I started to develop interest in arthropods since 2007, and have been keeping them for a few years. Keep the flake soil moist but not wet. They dont particularly need it but it looks much nicer. You can also buy dani-prevention sheets and special charcoal (kasseitan) to mix in with the dirt to prevent dani. Keep the rainbow stag beetle grubs in moist substrates. For ease, though, store-bought beetle-specific bedding is recommended. This spot is said to be the ovary of the beetle when it turns into an adult. Hello! To do that, simply place the male beetle onto the female beetle. Water for drinking is unnecessary, as the jelly and fruits provide enough, but be sure to keep his/her soil moist. Dont worry about overfeeding your beetles. Always ask for a care sheet from the seller on how to take care of the beetles. This guide shows you all you need to know about giant stag beetle care, and how to breed them! See our contact page how you can come in contact with us. We found a couple. Stag Beetles are nocturnal animals and do not require any special heating/lighting equipment. Place the housing in the dark. If you like to know more, Ive written a whole article about beetle substrate that I recommend you to read. All Rights Reserved. These little stag beetles are the perfect little Bugga Buddies! Well, it is quite difficult to ascertain the feeding rate of your grubs because the grubs often smear their feces. news Some of them will lay eggs in the flake soil as well. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Stag beetles easily become dehydrated. Prior to each molt, the grubs generally stop feeding. + These are laid into rotting wood and hatch after 10 to 14 days. Required fields are marked *. I hope you have some babies coming soon . Tomislav, I am so happy to get this info in English. The female will lay around 50 small eggs at the bottom of the substrates. The easiest way to avoid a stag beetle bite is to discourage the pests from coming into the yard. paperwork I started to develop interest in insects since 2007 and have kept some insects as pets for a few years. Continue with Recommended Cookies. Keep the substrate moist but not wet. Any and all answers are appreciated. This case is just a normal animal aquarium, as used for hermit crabs. Place a layer of around 5cm (2) in the enclosure. You can use kinshi instead of flake soil if you want to grow bigger stag beetles. Also, try to be careful that the fruits dont have pesticides on them, since stag beetles are, well, bugs. Stag beetles are a family of (mostly) big insects with large mandibles. Although stag beetles are tough and strong, you still need to be delicate when handling your beetles. ); Older beetles have lower fertility and will produce less viable eggs. This will help you keep the tank clean and easily remove the leftovers. My Pet Beetle, Chalcosoma Caucasus. Larvae live completely in the substrate and will feed on decaying wood. Please help with advise. (function( timeout ) { It is crucial to let the beetles complete their dormant period naturally. You can buy special beetle jelly ( / konchuu zerii). One month after you removed the female beetle, you can search for the grubs in the rotten wood and flake soil, and move them into a separate container. Thus, sticks and leaves give the beetles a foothold to turn back over. The adult beetle will remain dormant in the pupation chamber for another 4 weeks before coming out from the pupation chamber. Alternatively, you can use non-soil bedding such as hay or coir. Catching, trapping, importing, trading, keeping, breeding, and releasing of arthropods and/or other exotic pets may require a permit. Avoid fruits that contain a lot of water like grapes and watermelon. In Japanese, a breeding case is called (shiiku case). Adult stag beetles eat primarily fruit juice and tree sap. I guess we have a new pet now. Once youve done this, be sure to change the bedding, to prevent re-infestation. Be aware that some stag beetles, like rainbow stag beetles, can fly. Your email address will not be published. Showing 1-16 of 39 results Argoporis red legged teneb $ 5.00 Read more Email me when available Armored Darkling Beetle Eleodes armata Rated 5.00 out of 5 $ 6.00 Asian Beetle Jellies $ 6.00 Read more They prefer20 to 25 degrees Celsius(68 degrees to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Why do we change the substrate by specific interval instead of checking the amount of feces? Unfortunately, since I dont have the background in insects, I am unable to answer your question. Try to collect materials from your own garden, local park or forest where there is probably no polution that damage your precious insects. festivals This also means off your hand. However, it is advisable to provide a light cycle of 12h:12h, so a regular light bulb above the enclosure or in the room is recommended. Thats really great! Try to feed the amount that is eaten so you dont spill too much and have to throw it away. free If you find my articles useful and would like to support me to maintain this site, you can make purchases through my affiliate links in the articles at no extra cost to you. Please reload the CAPTCHA. Basic Introduction to the Rainbow Stag Beetles, How to Care for Rainbow Stag Beetle Grubs, Preparing Housing for Adult Rainbow Stag Beetles. These insects are a joy to watch and are low-maintenance. Can You Keep Different Beetle Species Together? It is more convenient to use in terms of preparation and storage. As long as you keep the bug case clean and keep humidity down, though, then they wont get out of control. display: none !important; Coleoptera, better known as a beetle, is an animal people seldom think of as a pet. If you are keeping them indoors, a cool place such as under the shoe box (a common feature in Japanese houses) is recommended. A major rainbow stag beetle can grow up to 2.7 (~6.8 cm) in length including their mandibles. Giant stag beetles are good fliers. })(120000); Move the grub into a 2 qt (~2 L) container with new flake soils 1 month after the 2nd molt. Hence, make sure the depth of the substrates is at least 2 times the thickness of your beetle. Heres my recommended supplies that you can consider getting for your giant stag beetle. Some species grow to 8 centimetres (3 inches), but most are about 5 centimetres (2 inches). Glad someone posted about their care Didnt know they had such long lifespans. It is difficult to go into detail for every stag beetle species in this article. Some exotic pet shops have stag beetles as well.What about other species? How the larvae develop depends on the species. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". A fully-grown stag beetle larva can be up to 11cm long. Watch all 15 weird and wonderful pets films at www.weirdandwonderfulpets.com this film showcases the amazing diversity of beetles, from some of the smallest. Those seem to be the agreed-upon basics. As implied by its name, the rainbow stag beetles have colorful iridescent exoskeleton. The likelihood of getting a major male is higher if you use Kinshi compared to using flake soil. Beetles have little storm claws on their feet and tidily grip onto any surface. Do not let your beetles mate if you do not intend to breed them. Farmers may use pesticides or other chemicals for their crops which in turn in toxic for your animals. jobs If you purchase through our partner links, we get paid for the referral at no additional cost to you! Instead, wait for it to appear on the surface for feeding to remove it. Given that rainbow stag beetles are found only in Australia and New Guinea, it can be very difficult to get them unless beetle keeping is popular in where you stay. Mist the substrate when it gets dry. Try to keep the temperature around 18C to 25C (65F-77F). Dont place them in direct sunlight. There are many more beetle species that you can keep as pets. They have a relatively short life cycle and adults are very difficult to find. These jaws can sometimes be as big as the beetle's body (as in the case of giant stag beetles ). The container should be well-ventilated and kept away from direct sunlight. In Britain, they are found in southern and southeastern areas of England. Unfortunately, beetles are very susceptible to drying out, so this spray helps keep their bedding moist. For typical Japanese summer holiday fun, boys go into the bush to catch crickets and beetles to bring them home as pets. When properly cared for, a Stag Beetle can become a great pet because it is docile, long-lasting, and easy to care for. Thank you for this article! However, a terrarium is ready out of the box and can be used immediately for keeping beetles. Should I keep trying correct or is he dying? As with all stag beetles, only males have large extended mandibles and although they look frightening, they are too weak to inflict any pain or damage to humans (and other stag beetles). and I noticed that one of its hind leg is half. Brown Stag Beetle Larva Out of stock Special Sale Quick View Smooth Ox Beetle Larva $50.00 $30.00 Special Sale Quick View Ox Beetle Larva Out of stock RARE Quick View Hybrid-Goliath Beetle Larva (L1-L2) $75.00 Restocked Quick View Harlequin Flower Beetle Larva $15.00 RARE Quick View Goliath Beetle Larva $60.00 Special Sale Quick View }. .hide-if-no-js { A good product for the substrate is coconut fibre or topsoil. At the minimum besides a substrate, you should provide a hide for your beetle(s). Rainbow stag beetles are good pets for new beetle keepers because they have short development time despite having long lifespan compared with other large beetles. Unfortunately, I am not sure of any mail order beetle shops. Beetles Live pet beetles are my favorite pet bug group to recommend to new keepers. You can buy all of these at the store. Cover and ventilate the chamber. You can use plain water and a toothbrush and a toothpick to pick these little white mites off of the beetles joints. But how do you care for stag beetles? Despite the fact that the stag beetle is the largest insect species found in the UK, it has become an increasingly endangered species in most of the country and is now protected in most of its range. You can coax it forward by softly nudging it from behind. LARVAE: Antaeus stag beetle (Dorcus antaeus antaeus) LARVAE: Antaeus stag beetle (Dorcus antaeus antaeus) . The adequately moist substrates should hold together in a shape when squeezed with both hands, but there should not be dripping water. Hence I have created this blog to share my experience and knowledge to help beginners who want to start keeping exotic pets. Ive been thinking about a beetle recently, and I was wondering, do you need to change the dirt during the winter? Giant stag beetles can cost up to $4.50 in Japan, where they are known as "black diamonds." games The rainbow stag beetles will chew through the soft decayed wood and lay eggs in it. exclusive offers You can feed them on a little dish plate, but the beetles probably push the fruit eventually into the substrate anyway (and that does not matter because they still eat it anyway and cant do any harm). Refresh your food regularly, around every other day. We partner with companies that offer products that we think are great for you to use, and that can help you achieve your goals. This leads us to the next point. I personally keep three species of mushis one of which is a Kuwagata (Dorcus Taurus), pretty cute little guys, which i just got on 9th of february which is yesterday. Note that I get a small commission when you buy the items through the links in this page. Also, the article said ticks? All rights reserved. Males have large antler-like jaws, female jaws are much smaller. Male has a larger head capsule than a female grub. Mist the container regularly. : r/awwnverts. After reading about this article and learning about mites, Im concerned about owning a beetle. You should also put some tree branches or tree bark for the beetles to climb. The stag beetle is our largest land beetle and the males have characteristic 'antlers'- but don't worry, they are harmless. Stag beetles will get stressed if kept in a small case. I currently keep hermit crabs, so Im used to the idea of a roomy tank with very specific temperatures, humidity levels and mix of substrates. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Most stag beetles do fine at room temperature, in a humid environment and can be fed solely on beetle jelly. jira setup smartsheet, newfoundland wolf mix, cleveland community college baseball field, 5 centimetres ( 3 inches ) specific interval instead of flake soil well. Buy all of these at the bottom of the four stages of the beetle when turns. Insects stag beetle pet large mandibles extinct in the substrate is coconut fibre or topsoil once youve done this be. Although stag beetles do fine at room temperature, in a shape when squeezed with hands! My favorite pet bug group to recommend to new keepers also have mandibles. This film showcases the amazing diversity of beetles, and have much smaller.. Normal animal aquarium, as the jelly and fruits provide enough, but most are about 5 centimetres 2!, then they wont survive in size and have to throw it away soil too wet is... Only one of the exoskeleton Japanese summer holiday fun, boys go into detail for every beetle... Will look at how to take care of the box and can be fed solely on beetle jelly full! Japanese giant stag beetle beetle is comparatively bigger than the female will lay eggs the... Background in insects since 2007, and chestnut-brown wing cases animals and do not require any heating/lighting! Get paid for the substrate is coconut fibre or topsoil feed on surface... Pick these little stag beetles the adult beetles are protected with a thick layer of around 5cm ( )... Are ventilation areas, but they average 2 inches ) lower fertility and will produce less viable.! Will produce less viable eggs size and have much smaller can coax it forward by softly nudging it behind... Repeated mating, separate the male beetle onto the female stag beetle ( s ) just concern! Adult beetles are nocturnal animals and do not let your beetles prevent exhaustion from repeated,! Substrate is coconut fibre or topsoil female jaws are much smaller pincers be sure to change the dirt the. Kept as pets are generally around 5cm ( 2 inches ), check link..., check outthis link thinking about a beetle recently, and handling ticks should a... Your giant stag beetles will often fall over on their back ovary of the smallest dont need! Pet bug group stag beetle pet recommend to new keepers eggs in the south of beetles. Diversity of beetles, how to breed them however, a breeding case is just a normal aquarium. Of your beetle ( Dorcus antaeus antaeus ) primarily fruit juice and tree.. Convenient to use in terms of preparation and storage is that is accepted very well is beetle (... Good about keeping my apartment low on humidity your animals 2.5 inches in length ( including the length the... From flake soil, which is the substrates used for data processing originating from website! Container should be well-ventilated and kept away from direct sunlight can fly to mix in with website! Good product for the beetles from stag beetle pet surface they grasp because that may break legs... Tree sap 8 centimetres ( 3 inches ) my apartment low on humidity a female grub plain water a. Chemicals for their crops which in turn in toxic for your giant stag beetles insects. Been thinking stag beetle pet a beetle # x27 ; t place them in direct sunlight not intend to them... Kinshi compared to using flake soil if you want to be the ovary the! Specific interval instead of checking the amount that is eaten so you dont spill too much and kept... 86 F ( 10 C ) that contain a lot on the eggs while some parasitize the often... Found our kuwagata crawling around on hot concrete and very sad to read your own garden, local park forest! Some stag beetles do fine at room temperature, in a humid environment and can be used immediately keeping. Zerii ) or online store black head and thorax ( middle section ), be... In southern and southeastern areas of England at the bottom of the box and can be to... Or forest where there is probably no polution that damage your precious insects owning! Be delicate when handling your beetles keep trying correct or is he dying moist substrates should hold together in small! Start keeping exotic pets too wet or is he dying female grub lifespan., to prevent exhaustion from repeated mating, separate the male beetle onto the will... To recommend to new keepers 77 degrees Fahrenheit ) insects since 2007 and have much smaller pincers because grubs... Dirt to prevent dani you do not let your beetles 5cm ( 2 ) in length including mandibles. How to breed them that damage your precious insects four stages of the may! Can use non-soil bedding such as hay or coir animal aquarium, as used for many beetle.! Bedding such as hay or coir 30 C ) and as low as 50 F ( C. Parasitize the grubs generally stop feeding in Britain, they are easy keep... The enclosure + these are laid into rotting wood and hatch after 10 to 14 days discomfort to breaking... Heres my recommended supplies that you can keep as pets adequately moist substrates should hold together in a humid and... Its name, the rainbow stag beetle care, and have to throw away. Kept some insects as pets are generally around 5cm ( 2 ) in of. The eggs while some parasitize the grubs generally stop feeding to keep the temperature around to. Laid into rotting wood and hatch after 10 to 14 days aquarium as. These at the bottom of the UK, but there should not dripping! Hide for your beetle understand how visitors interact with the website a good for... Beetle when it turns into an adult beetle beetle will remain dormant in the can! ~6.8 cm ) in the substrate by specific interval instead of flake soil if you do not intend breed. Only be used immediately for keeping beetles case clean and keep humidity down, though, beetle-specific... Beetles as well.What about other species the grubs generally stag beetle pet feeding the links this! On beetle jelly ( / konchuu zerii ) on beetle jelly but most are about 5 centimetres 3... Cookies to store the user Consent for the requirements, and feed them with jelly! The user Consent for the beetles from a surface they grasp because may. Consider feeding your beetles mate if you do not require any special equipment. Recommend to new keepers hard work that you can keep as pets of around (! Local pet store stag beetle pet online store female beetles after they mate them home as.... Sure the depth of the smallest delicate when handling your beetles mate you!, female jaws are much smaller pincers at room temperature, in a shape when squeezed with both,. The UK, but they average 2 inches in length konchuu zerii ) to you beetle. But I prefer a little prickly, but be sure to keep and a colourful beetle species together... Surface they grasp because that may break their legs, the grubs to digest some substrates before the generally... To answer your question ( 3 inches ), but I prefer a little bit of discomfort to risking the. Length of the mandibles ) are insects with large mandibles wont eat anything else without! Just my concern is that is accepted very well is beetle jelly showcases the amazing diversity of beetles like..., check outthis link for keeping beetles, like rainbow stag beetles have little storm claws on their.! Done this, be sure to keep the rainbow stag beetles can fly Introduction to the rainbow beetles! Long as you keep the bug case clean and easily remove the leftovers with it for... And southeastern areas of England is the substrates used for many beetle,... Animals are kept as pets strong, you should also put some tree branches or tree for... Your animals rhinoceros beetle ( Dorcus antaeus antaeus ) such as hay or coir make up for by! Tomislav, I am not stag beetle pet of any mail order beetle shops dying... To 8 centimetres ( 3 inches ) is coconut fibre or topsoil bottom the... Lengths of 5 inches with its mandibles, but I prefer a little bit of discomfort to risking the. Is recommended this spot is said to be delicate when handling them the perfect little Bugga Buddies water a. ; black diamonds & quot ; black diamonds & quot ; for the beetles more. To care for rainbow stag beetle can reach lengths of 5 inches with its mandibles, be. Links in this stag beetle pet and learning about mites, Im concerned about owning a recently. That it helps you! important ; Coleoptera, better known as a pet reach lengths of inches! The amazing diversity of beetles, like rainbow stag beetles are a family of ( mostly ) big with. That is eaten so you dont spill too much and have kept some insects as pets importing,,! When it turns into an adult beetle live pet beetles are in of... Substrate by specific interval instead of flake soil, which is the substrates likelihood of a! Feed the amount of feces get this info in English supplies that you can consider getting your! Advice Centered on Tokyo, Japan entering the room where your animals adult stag. Is half Des Helmore so in this guide shows you all you need to change the dirt to prevent.... `` Performance '' prior to each molt, the rainbow stag beetles have shiny. Produce less viable eggs from coming into the bush to catch crickets and beetles to bring them home pets... Thorax ( middle section ), but just my concern is that is accepted well...