The numbers
Enclosure
25 × 25 cm
Diet
Adults: high-protein beetle jelly, banana; larvae eat flake soil · Adults: jelly every 1-2 days; larvae: substrate change every 1-2 mo
Temperature
23-27C (avoid heat for larvae)
Humidity
60-80%
Identity
Order / Family
Coleoptera
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; not CITES
Difficulty
Beginner–Intermediate
Commonality
Common in SEA hobby; affordable large rhino
Adult size
Male 60-120mm (incl. horns); female 25-60mm
Lifespan
Larva ~10-14 mo (L1-L3); adult ~2-4 mo
Growth rate
Moderate (long larval stage)
Activity & niche
Nocturnal; adults on sap/fruit; larvae in rotten wood
Temperament
Males very aggressive to each other; larvae bite/cannibalise
Venom / defense
Harmless to people - no venom/sting; three horns for male combat
Price (THB)
indicative ~150-600 (larvae/adults, seasonal)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
23-27C (avoid heat for larvae)
Humidity
60-80%
Min. enclosure
Larvae REARED INDIVIDUALLY: L1-L2 in 0.5-2L, L3 in 5-10L bottles/bins, 20-30cm flake soil; adults 25x25cm+
Substrate
Larvae: fermented flake soil; adults: coco/soil + bark
Hides / decor / water
Bark, branches, leaf litter; mist lightly
Diet
Staple food
Adults: high-protein beetle jelly, banana; larvae eat flake soil
Feeding frequency
Adults: jelly every 1-2 days; larvae: substrate change every 1-2 mo
Supplements
Protein-rich jelly for horn size
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Adults ok gently; keep fingers from horns; larvae disturb minimally
Communal
Keep males apart and larvae separate (aggressive/cannibalistic)
Defense / stress signs
Hissing, horn thrusts; larvae thrash and bite if handled
Reproduction
Reproduction
Eggs -> L1-L3 (large L3 15-25g) -> pupa in cell -> adult; long cycle
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsLarval death from heat, failed pupation, dehydration, mites
Red flags / quarantine
SignsKeep cool; mites; do not release non-natives; check import rules
Good to know
- Larvae are notoriously fierce - they bite and must be housed one grub per container
Others in this group
Japanese rhinoceros beetleTrypoxylus dichotomus (formerly Allomyrina)Siamese rhinoceros / fighting beetleXylotrupes gideon (TH pops. often X. socrates)Giant stag beetleDorcus titanus (syn. Serrognathus titanus)Sun beetle (fruit beetle)Pachnoda marginata (peregrina)Hercules beetleDynastes herculesGiant flower beetleMecynorhina torquataGiraffe stag beetleProsopocoilus giraffaCaucasus beetleChalcosoma chiron (formerly C. caucasus)