Adults:
- Size: 40-120mm
- Adult life span once active: 8 -12 months
- Temperature: 68-78°F
- Humidity: 60-80%
- Food: Beetle jelly or fruits(no citrus)
- Housing tip: Since this is a species of stag beetles, it's better to house adult beetles individually.
Breeding:
- Required temperature for breeding: 70-80°F
- Minimum container size for egg laying: 8 in x 4 in x 8 in. Bigger containers are always the better option for breeding!
- # of eggs laid on average: 15-35
- Flake soil humidity adjustment: The amount of water is appropriate when you can form a ball by squeezing the flake soil with your hand. Water seeping out of your hands during the process indicates that there is too much water.
- Set-up: Pack the bottom 5in of the container tightly and fill up the remaining space loosely with flake soil. Place objects such as sticks or barks at the top so that the beetle can flip itself over if needed. Lastly, don't forget to regularly give fruits or beetle jelly for the beetle to feed!
Set-up example:
Larvae:
- Food: Flake soil, white-rot hardwood, or kinshi(hiratake or kawaratake)
- Temperature: 66-78°F
- Humidity: 60%
- Larval duration: 8 -12 months
- Container size recommendations:
- L1: 4oz deli cup
- L2: 16oz deli containers
- L3 female: 32 oz deli container
- L3 male: 64oz container
Important notes:
- Adult males can potentially kill females during the mating process
- Kinshi can potentially allow larva to develop faster and bigger
- Male larvae can grow up to 50g or more, which is why big containers are needed once they hit the L3 stage.
- Female larvae tend to pupate faster than males; thus, it's recommended to keep the female larvae cooler and male larvae warmer in order to match the timing of their emergence.