Metallic Stag Beetle (Cyclommatus metallifer finae)

IMPORTANT: Live beetles cannot be released into non-native habitats under any circumstances.  Please contact me to re-home any unwanted non-native beetles.

Metallic Stag Beetles, otherwise known as Cyclommatus metallifer finae, originate from Indonesia.  However, our adult beetles and larvae are all captive bred in the United States.  There are several color morphs that can be found within the species including bronze, purple, and gold.  The parents for this generation are from an 80mm bronze male with assorted color females (purple and bronze).  Outcomes for males have been bronze with some purplish/pink undertones.  Individual males can be bronze, purple, or gold with some near black with green and blue undertones possible in some individuals.  Females are generally black as this species exhibits very strong sexual dimorphism between the males and females.

Metallic Stag Beetles are a great beginner species.  They are hardy, easy to keep and breed, and males can exhibit impressive size and color.  Males can grow up to 100mm in the wild but captive bred individuals have been bred into the upper 90's.  Females tend to be quite small at between 22-28mm.  It is recommended to keep the males individually except when breeding with females to prolong their lifespan.  

Breeding is also quite easy for Cyclommatus metallifer.  I've had females produce 30-40 eggs in a short amount of time.  While their lifespan of 4-8 months as adults is slightly shorter than many of the larger Dorcus species, they can start another generation of beetles very quickly.

Our beetles can be purchased as L1/2 larvae, L2/3 larvae, or as adults.  Please make sure you select the proper life stage in the checkout options.  Larvae will be shipped in a small amount of substrate that is suitable to sustain them for up to a week.  Please make sure you have the proper amount of substrate to transfer the larvae to upon arrival.  Metallic Stag Beetle larvae should be kept in stag flake soil.

Suggested substrate container sizes for Metallic Stag Beetles are:

• L1: 4 oz. container
• L2: 12-16 oz. container
• L3 females: 12-16 oz. container
• L3 males: 32 oz container (long side placed horizontally is optimal)

Adult Metallic Stag beetles can eat soft fruits such as banana, melons, peaches, etc.  Buying organic produce is a better option to avoid pesticides that can be found in fruit.  Also stay away from citrus fruits (too acidic) and watermelon as it's water content is too high to use as a regular food source.  The best choice though is probably beetle jelly since it is designed to provide beetles with the proper nutrients and with additional protein (helpful for breeding).