How difficult is it to keep Confucius Saw Stag Beetle?

Intermediate. This is an intermediate-level species. Some prior experience and knowledge of environmental management are recommended.

What is the ideal temperature for Confucius Saw Stag Beetle?

The ideal temperature for Confucius Saw Stag Beetle is 20〜24℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.

How large does Confucius Saw Stag Beetle get?

Confucius Saw Stag Beetle typically reaches Males 40-113mm (captive record 106.9mm), females 23-45mm (captive record 51.6mm) as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What is the typical price for Confucius Saw Stag Beetle?

The price of Confucius Saw Stag Beetle varies significantly depending on bloodline, size, captive-bred generation, and sex. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Confucius Saw Stag Beetle

Q: What should I feed Confucius Saw Stag Beetle?

Confucius Saw Stag Beetle feeds on: Beetle jelly (hackberry and other hardwood sap in the wild); larvae on fermented substrate or fungus bottles. Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

Intermediate

Prosopocoilus confucius

Named after Confucius, this is the second largest saw stag beetle after the giraffe stag, with males reaching 113mm. It stands heat less well than the giraffe stag and needs to be kept on the cool side.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Temperature

20〜24℃

Lifespan

Adults from six months to nearly a year

Size

Males 40-113mm (captive record 106.9mm), females 23-45mm (captive record 51.6mm)

Humidity

60〜80%

Diet

Beetle jelly (hackberry and other hardwood sap in the wild); larvae on fermented substrate or fungus bottles

About

Prosopocoilus confucius is named after Confucius and, at around 100mm, is the second largest saw stag beetle in the world after the giraffe stag. Males measure 40-113mm and females 23-45mm. In large males the mandible curves gently at the base and again from the middle forward, then runs straight, combining the look of the Japanese saw stag with that of the giraffe stag. The inner teeth are weak, and in medium and small males the mandibles shorten towards a primitive form. It occurs in northeast India, northern Myanmar, southern China and northern Vietnam, overlapping in part with the nominate giraffe stag but over a narrower range, and it has not split into the many island subspecies that the giraffe stag has. It drinks the sap of hackberry and other hardwoods in high-altitude cloud forest and rainforest, and is nocturnal but also active by day. Adults live from six months to nearly a year, second only to the giraffe stag among saw stags. Larvae take one to one and a half years.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Size of the Confucius Saw Stag Beetle

The Confucius Saw Stag Beetle grows to Males 40-113mm (captive record 106.9mm), females 23-45mm (captive record 51.6mm).

Temperature & humidity for the Confucius Saw Stag Beetle

The ideal temperature for the Confucius Saw Stag Beetle is 20〜24℃.

Basic Info

Origin

Northeast India, northern Myanmar, southern China and northern Vietnam

Lifespan

Adults from six months to nearly a year

Care Specifications

AggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Moderate

Sources: Wikipedia (Prosopocoilus confucius, ja) / Tsukiyono Kinokoen: Prosopocoilus giraffa rearing manual (general care for foreign saw stags) / BE-KUWA rearing records (2025 edition, Mushi-sha)

Breeding Records & Localities

Captive record (♂)

106.9 mm

Wild record (♂)

113 mm

Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (captive 106.9 mm, Endo Fumio, registered 2005; wild 113.0 mm; predicted maximum 117 mm; female captive 51.6 mm, Murata Shinichi, registered 2023)

Notable localities

Northeast IndiaNorthern MyanmarSouthern ChinaNorthern Vietnam

Generation codes

WD: Wild-caught
WF1: Offspring of a wild-caught female
F1〜: Captive generations (same locality)
CBF1: Cross-locality captive-bred (reset)

Sources: BE-KUWA rearing records (2025 edition, Mushi-sha) / Wikipedia (Prosopocoilus confucius, ja)

References & Sources

Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team

The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.

Primary sources

Taxonomy & Authority

Accepted name: Prosopocoilus confucius (Hope, 1842)

Synonyms: Cladognathus confucius

Authority databases: GBIF

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

Not CITES-listed

Plant Protection Act: When importing live specimens of Scarabaeoidea (including rhinoceros beetles, stag beetles, flower beetles, etc.), a species identification certificate issued by the exporting country government agency or equivalent must be attached in accordance with the Invasive Species Act (import ports are limited to Narita, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka, and Kagoshima airports). This species itself is not a designated invasive species, and import is possible upon submission of the certificate.

Sources: Ministry of the Environment, Invasive Species Act: "Guidance for Those Importing Live Insects in Scarabaeoidea" / CITES Appendix (checklist.cites.org)

Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.