Popular Stag Beetle Species Guide

Over 1,500 species of stag beetles exist worldwide, with many varieties available in the pet trade. If you're unsure which species to choose, here's a guide to popular species with their characteristics, care difficulty, and price ranges.

Popular Domestic Species

Japanese Giant Stag Beetle (Dorcus hopei binodulosus) - Size: Males 30-85mm, Females 25-50mm - Features: Lustrous black body with well-developed mandibles. Known as the "King of Stag Beetles" - Care difficulty: Low to medium (hardy and long-lived, some individuals live 5-10 years) - Breeding: Egg-laying wood and fungus bottle rearing produce larger specimens - Price range: Several thousand to tens of thousands of yen for high-quality bloodlines

Flat Stag Beetle (Dorcus titanus) - Size: Males 30-80mm, Females 20-45mm (varies by subspecies) - Features: Flattened body with laterally spread mandibles. Highly aggressive with strong grip - Care difficulty: Low (hardy and easy to keep. Handle males with caution) - Breeding: Compatible with both substrate and wood laying - Price range: Several hundred to several thousand yen

Saw Stag Beetle (Prosopocoilus inclinatus) - Size: Males 26-70mm (mandible shape varies between large and small forms) - Features: Popular for its long saw-like mandibles. The quintessential summer beetle - Care difficulty: Low (readily available and hardy) - Price range: Several hundred to several thousand yen

Popular Foreign Species

Rainbow Stag Beetle (Phalacrognathus muelleri) - Origin: Australia and Papua New Guinea - Size: Males 40-75mm - Features: Stunning iridescent metallic coloring. Known as the "Jewel Stag Beetle" - Care difficulty: Low (hardy and docile, relatively easy to breed) - Price range: Several thousand yen and up (rare colors like blue and green command higher prices)

Giraffe Stag Beetle (Prosopocoilus giraffa) - Origin: Southeast Asia - Size: Males 60-120mm (one of the world's longest stag beetles) - Features: Extraordinarily long mandibles create an impressive spectacle - Care difficulty: Medium (sensitive to high temperatures, requires temperature management) - Price range: Several thousand to tens of thousands of yen

Palawan Giant Flat Stag Beetle - Origin: Palawan Island, Philippines - Size: Males 60-115mm (largest flat stag beetle species) - Features: The world's largest flat stag beetle with tremendous gripping power - Care difficulty: Medium (temperature management is important) - Price range: Several thousand to tens of thousands of yen

Choosing Guide for Beginners

• Prioritizing hardiness: Japanese Giant Stag Beetle or Rainbow Stag Beetle
• Prioritizing visual impact: Giraffe or Palawan
• Budget-conscious: Flat or Saw (domestic species)
• Prioritizing color: Rainbow Stag Beetle

Find Stag Beetles on Bri-Choku

On Bri-Choku, you can purchase various stag beetle species directly from specialist breeders. Being able to verify bloodline, emergence date, and rearing environment beforehand is a key advantage.