How difficult is it to keep Nigritus 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 Nigritus Stag Beetle?

The ideal temperature for Nigritus Stag Beetle is 23〜25℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.

What is the lifespan of Nigritus Stag Beetle?

The average lifespan of Nigritus Stag Beetle is Adults 6 months to 1 year. With proper care and nutrition, they can live a long and healthy life.

How large does Nigritus Stag Beetle get?

Nigritus Stag Beetle typically reaches Males up to 81mm (wild max), females up to 50.9mm (captive record) as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.

What should I feed Nigritus Stag Beetle?

Nigritus Stag Beetle feeds on: Beetle jelly (adults); fermented substrate or kinshi bottles (larvae). Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.

What is the typical price for Nigritus Stag Beetle?

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

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Nigritus Stag Beetle

Intermediate

Hexarthrius nigritus

An all-black fork-horned stag known only from the mountains around Khao Yai in central Thailand. It looks like a black Parry's stag and resembles Buquet's stag of Java, differing in the shape of the pronotal margins. Seldom traded; bred in logs like other Hexarthrius.

Difficulty

Intermediate

Temperature

23〜25℃

Lifespan

Adults 6 months to 1 year

Size

Males up to 81mm (wild max), females up to 50.9mm (captive record)

Humidity

60〜80%

Diet

Beetle jelly (adults); fermented substrate or kinshi bottles (larvae)

About

The Nigritus stag beetle (Hexarthrius nigritus), described in 1990, is a Thai fork-horned stag recorded only from an isolated massif around Khao Yai National Park in central Thailand. It is considered close to Parry's stag but lacks the orange elytral patch and is black throughout, including the head, hence the description 'a black Parry's stag'. It is separated from the equally black Buquet's stag of Java by the straight pronotal sides, and H. sanuchi of Cambodia is a related species with similar mandibles and clypeus. The wild maximum is 81mm, and the BE-KUWA 2025 captive record is 85.7mm (2012). Trade in Japan is limited to occasional larvae and adults from specialist shops. Species-specific husbandry literature is scarce; the general rule for the genus applies, adults kept singly at 23-25C and eggs laid in Quercus logs on the surface at a slightly warm 25-27C. Like all Hexarthrius it is aggressive, and the male's mandibles are tied for pairing.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Lifespan of the Nigritus Stag Beetle

The Nigritus Stag Beetle lives Adults 6 months to 1 year.

Size of the Nigritus Stag Beetle

The Nigritus Stag Beetle grows to Males up to 81mm (wild max), females up to 50.9mm (captive record).

Temperature & humidity for the Nigritus Stag Beetle

The ideal temperature for the Nigritus Stag Beetle is 23〜25℃.

Basic Info

Origin

Central Thailand (around Khao Yai National Park)

Care Specifications

AggressiveSolitaryBreeding: Moderate

Sources: Hakurai Rokkyakudo: rearing Hexarthrius parryi / Hakurai Rokkyakudo: rearing Hexarthrius buqueti / COLORS fork-horned stag beetle catalogue / Wikipedia (ja): Hexarthrius

Breeding Records & Localities

Captive record (♂)

85.7 mm

Record source: BE-KUWA 2025 edition (Nigritus stag: captive 85.7mm, Kohei Abe, 2012; wild record 81.0mm)

Notable localities

Central Thailand (Khao Yai)

No subspecies. The BE-KUWA female record is 50.9mm (2016).

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 certified breeding records (Mushi-sha, 2025 edition) / COLORS fork-horned stag beetle catalogue

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: Hexarthrius nigritus Lacroix, 1990

Authority databases: GBIF

Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.

Regulations & Conservation Status

Not CITES-listed

Plant Protection Act: Live Scarabaeoidea beetles (rhinoceros, stag and flower beetles) may be imported into Japan only with a species-name certificate issued by the exporting government under the Invasive Alien Species Act, and only through Narita, Chubu, Kansai, Fukuoka or Kagoshima airports. This species is not a designated invasive alien species and can be imported with the certificate.

Sources: Ministry of the Environment (Japan): Importing live Scarabaeoidea beetles / CITES Appendices (species not listed)

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