Feeding Chalcosoma caucasus

[Honestly Vitali]

Hello! I have a Chalcosoma caucasus beetle (very similar to an Atlas beetle). He seems very healthy, and he's so interesting! I feed him enriched beetle jelly. He really really likes it (specifically the white flavor)! Which lead me to wonder... Can you overfeed beetles? I have had kabutomushi/Rhinoceros beetles before, and I never really had to limit their food. They seemed to eat as much jelly as they wanted and I'd take out the uneaten jelly and replace it daily. This large boy, though, seems to spend all day eating until there's nothing left in the cup! Am I maybe overfeeding him? Should I limit how much jelly he gets? Thank you!

 

[Rique]

Vitali, absolutely no worries in this respect. Consider that in the wild, if a source of food is found, the beetle will do exactly the same. Also, it’s fair to consider that the body mass ratio is greater in C. caucasus than a major Trypoxylus dichotomus - excepting underfed larvae and resulting stunted or dwarfed development - and even at the imago stage with weight comparisons. With greater mass or weight, greater quantities of nutrition is required. The same holds true for the imagos.

 

[Honestly Vitali]

Thank you for your advice. I was worried, but I will feed him freely! He will surely be happy with all the jelly.

 

[Rique]

Thank you for your advice. I was worried, but I will feed him freely! He will surely be happy with all the jelly.

You’re very welcome, Vitali...I have a pair of Megasoma punctulatus females who ate 4 beetle jellies this month, and I gave them 2 more today. The more they eat, the more they will get.