The numbers
Enclosure
25 × 25 cm
Diet
Adults: beetle jelly, banana, fruit; larvae eat flake soil · Adults: fruit/jelly daily; larvae: change substrate every 1-2 mo
Temperature
22-28C
Humidity
55-70%
Identity
Order / Family
Coleoptera
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; not CITES
Difficulty
Beginner–Intermediate
Commonality
Popular colourful flower beetle
Adult size
Body 25-40mm; green/red with a small forked horn
Lifespan
Larva ~4-6 mo; adult ~2-5 mo
Growth rate
Fast
Activity & niche
DIURNAL; adults fly and feed on fruit; larvae in flake soil
Temperament
Active, placid; harmless
Venom / defense
Harmless - no venom; flies off if disturbed
Price (THB)
indicative ~150-800
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
22-28C
Humidity
55-70%
Min. enclosure
Larvae in 1-2L flake soil each; adults 25x25cm+ tall with branches
Substrate
Larvae: flake soil + white-rotted hardwood (no conifer); adults: coco/soil + bark
Hides / decor / water
Climbing branches, bark; mist; fruit for moisture
Diet
Staple food
Adults: beetle jelly, banana, fruit; larvae eat flake soil
Feeding frequency
Adults: fruit/jelly daily; larvae: change substrate every 1-2 mo
Supplements
Protein flake soil for size
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Docile; active flyer - mind escapes
Communal
Rear larvae apart; separate rival males
Defense / stress signs
Buzzing flight, leg-bracing
Reproduction
Reproduction
Eggs -> L1-L3 -> pupa in cocoon -> adult; breeds readily
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsWrong substrate stunts growth; mites; wing damage
Red flags / quarantine
SignsNo conifer substrate; non-native - never release; flyer escapes
Good to know
- Males show dazzling green, gold and red and fly readily in a warm room
Others in this group
Japanese rhinoceros beetleTrypoxylus dichotomus (formerly Allomyrina)Atlas beetleChalcosoma atlasSiamese 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 giraffa