Can I Keep Atlas Beetles As A Pet and How to Take Care of It?

Yes, you can keep atlas beetles as a pet. These insects are interactive to humans. Though the larvae are aggressive and do not like to be touched, the adults are more gentle. Pet atlas beetles do not bite their owners when they grow up.

Atlas beetles have two large horns on either side of the head that give them a distinct appearance. They have six legs and two antennas to pick up vibration in the environment. They can fly a short distance with their wings.

Any enclosure with proper ventilation is suitable for these insects. It is better not to house multiple beetles together as they can compete with each other. Being strong and resilient, they do not have any major health issues, which makes them easy to take care of.

Introduction to the Atlas Beetles

Scientific Name	Chalcosoma atlas
Name Of Young	larvae
Group Behavior	Solitary
Native Habitat	Tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.
Color	Shiny black to dark, metallic green
Lifespan	12 months
Venomous	No
Diet	Herbivore
Lifestyle	Nocturnal
Predators	giant scoliid wasp

Atlas beetles are native to southeast Asia, especially the tropical area. They have a shiny black to dark, metallic green appearance. The curved horns on their head give them a unique look. They are herbivores, and it saves you from purchasing other insects to feed them.

The lifespan of atlas beetles is not very long. They can survive up to 12 months in a healthy environment. Giving them proper food and maintaining the perfect environment may help them live longer.

Behavior and Nature of Atlas Beetle

The behaviors and characteristics of an animal are the first things you need to consider before deciding whether or not to own them. Atlas beetles have some interesting features, such as:

Adult atlas beetles do not bite if touched or handled by hands
They live an herbivore life throughout their life.
The male beetles can be aggressive, but female beetles are more patient. The most aggressive of them are the young larvae
Atlas beetles are not venomous. You do not need to get worried if bitten by the larvae
Atlas beetles are the biggest insects in Southeast Asia and are also known as the strongest of their species. They can lift objects 850 times heavier than their body.
The insect reaches adulthood quickly after being hatched. It usually takes about 30 days for them to become adults. They become gentler and politer with age.
They are solitary, and hence, you should keep one beetle in one container. Female beetles may cooperate and live peacefully with others.
The natural habitat of this insect is warm and humid. You need to replicate this in their container to make them comfortable.
Atlas beetles may not show emotion like dogs and cats, but they like to crawl on the hands or bodies of their owner.
As a nocturnal insect, they are more active during the night.

How to Get Atlas Beetles

You can get atlas beetles from online stores or simply trap them. It mostly depends on your location. You can find them selling online in your area if keeping insects is legal in your area. You should check the legality first.

While purchasing from online, you must check the age of the beetle. They usually survive between 8 to 12 months. Therefore, purchasing a beetle that is already 7 months old might not be a good idea. Buying atlas beetle grubs can be the most satisfying. It is fun to watch them grow up into adulthood. You can choose adult ones if you do not have time. Avoid opting for beetles that are older than a month.

You can also catch or trap them if they are available in your area. Atlas beetles are agricultural pests and are found in oil palm and fruitlands. Here is how to catch atlas beetles:

You need to put some apple slices in a small, perforated paper cup.
Use a plastic bucket or other containers and make drain holes at the bottom.
Place the cup of apples inside the bucket and use aluminum foil to cover half of the opening.
You need to find an open space now that is next to an oil palm plantation or fruit garden.
Position the container about 8 feet above the ground
Check the trap container regularly, and you will soon find some pests there.

How to Identify Male and Female Atlas Beetle

Like other animals, both male and female atlas beetles have some distinct features. You can identify their genders based on these features.

Characteristic	Male Atlas Beetle	Female Atlas Beetle
Size	60–120 mm (2.4–4.7 in)	25–60 mm (0.98–2.36 in)
Sexual Dimorphism	Yes, with males being larger	Yes, with females being smaller
Horns	Prominent, in a U shape on head and thorax	Absent
Fighting Behavior	Use horns to compete for mating rights	Not involved in horn-based fights
Weight	Average weight about 0.004g	Similar weight range, if not specified
Color	Typically dark brown to metallic green	Usually dark brown to metallic green

How to Take Care of Atlas Beetles

The caring strategies are almost similar for adult males, females, and larvae. You will not face any challenges if you have already petted other insects or if you are a new pet owner. Here is a care sheet for them.

1. Diet and Nutrition

Atlas beetles have a very simple diet consisting of only herbs. They will get all their essential nutrients from a simple diet chart. The larvae eat plant matter in the wild. You can give them fermenting wood and rotten leaf mulch. Bacteria-rich soil is a healthy addition to their diet.

Fruits are the primary food for adult beetles. You can give them leftovers of any food and they will devour it. However, you should remove the uneaten fruits quickly from the tank as fruits easily get soiled and smelly.

You can find beetle jelly in pet stores that are nutrient-rich meals for your pets. Bugs love the taste of this jelly, and it does not get spoiled as quickly as fruits.

2. Housing and Tank for Atlas Beetles

You can use any type of container or enclosure for keeping atlas beetles. Just ensure that there is enough ventilation and space for the beetle. Make a hole in your plastic container so that air can pass.

Atlas beetles are huge bugs and require more space than many other insects. The ideal measurement is to ensure the floor is at least three times wider than its length and 2 times taller than the height of the beetle.

Atlas beetles usually do not like to share their space with others. However, sometimes they can get along. You need to increase the space by at least 50% for every additional member. Avoid putting multiple males together, as they can get engaged in horn fights. Putting a male and a female together is safe and peaceful.

Adding beetle-specific substrate can make the container cozier for the beetles. Oak or beech leaves, decayed wood, soil, humus, etc., can be added to the substrate . You need to keep the enclosure away from direct sunlight as it may heat up the container. Decorating the tank with branches, logs, tree bark, and rocks can replicate the wild environment for them.

3. Ideal Temperature for Atlas Beetles

Atlas beetles like wild and humid temperatures. They love it when they are in an environment of 70 to 85 °F. Try to keep the temperature between 72 to 80 °F . This might not be easy to achieve, depending on your location.

You can use a thermometer in the tank to inspect the temperature. Use a lightbulb to warm up the tank if the temperature is low. However, avoid putting them under direct sunlight. Moisture is also important for the proper growth of atlas beetles. 77-88% is the ideal humidity level for them.

4. Health Issues of Atlas Beetles

Thankfully, atlas beetles are resilient and have a strong immune system. They do not get infected by diseases as long as you give them proper food and maintain a good environment.

The principal issue that may be faced is missing limbs of the bugs. Their delicate and thin legs get easily broken. Their legs can break due to falling or if you handle them improperly. You must never grab them by the legs when picking them up.

The most common reason for beetles is violent tank mates. Adult males might not be aggressive towards humans, but they are to each other. You need to keep them apart from each other if you want to pet multiple atlas beetles.

Female beetles have a shorter lifespan. They die soon after laying eggs. In order to keep your female beetle longer, you need to avoid breeding them.

5. How to Feed Atlas Beetles

Feeding atlas beetles is quite simple. You can feed them fruits, leaves, or beetle jelly. Follow these instructions to feed them:

Fruits with lower water content are ideal for adult beetles. Apples and bananas are good for them. You can also give them orange, grape, pineapple, and mango, too. Give fruits on a sauce dish and place them inside the tank. Remove the fruit if it is not finished in one day.
You can purchase commercial beetle jelly for them. These jellies do not grow mold and do not waste them.
Atlas beetles do not need additional water. They can get it from their food.
Avoid trying to hand-feed them. They like to have their food at their own convenience.

6. How to Clean Atlas Beetle Tank

Cleaning the beetle tanks is important for maintaining proper health for atlas beetles. Cleaning them on a weekly basis will be okay. But if you notice any dirt or spoiled food, remove them immediately. Here is how you can clean the tank:

Remove the beetles carefully from the tank and place them in a temporary container.
Remove unwanted food, feces, and any debris from the substrate. Make sure to dispose of waste material properly to ensure cleanliness.
It is best to replace a portion of the substrate during every cleaning to maintain freshness and cleanliness.
Wipe down the walls of the tank or container with a clean, damp cloth and make sure no accumulated dirt remains
CInspect the heating or lighting equipment carefully. Replace or do some repairing if needed.
Once done cleaning, carefully return the atlas beetles to their habitat. Keep them in observation for a few minutes for any signs of stress or discomfort.

How to Breed the Atlas Beetles

You need to be calculative with your male and female beetles for proper breeding. Female beetles grow and die faster than their male counterparts. The best option for you is to culture male and female beetle grubs in two separate containers. Keep the male beetle at a comparatively higher temperature than the female one. It will enhance the growth rate of the male beetle.

W hen both male and female beetles start to feed, they are ready to mate. Putting The female beetle into the male beetle’s tank is better than doing it the other way around. You should not place the female too close to the male . Let them approach on their own. The male bug usually takes the approach.

Avoid making noise while putting the beetle, as it can startle the male. It can attack the new member in the container out of stress and scarceness. The male beetle will approach the female within half an hour. If it does not, you can remove the female and try again after a few days.

Hopefully, the next attempt will be successful. You need to remove the female beetle after the mating and put it into a nursery chamber. This is a separate container for the female beetle with more space and ventilation where it can lay the eggs.

Natural Predators of the Atlas Beetle

The Atlas beetle is a much bigger insect, and it makes it an easy target for many predators. Their strength, speed, and flying abilities give them an advantage over their predators. H owever, the giant scoliid wasp is known as the number one threat for atlas beetles. These giant scoliid are faster, stronger, and can kill beetles.

The wasp usually does not hunt beetles for food. Instead, they catch larvae and inject them with venom to paralyze them. Then, the large wasp deposits eggs on the larvae. The hatched bug will keep eating the larvae from inside till it comes out as an adult.

You do not need to worry about your beetles if there is no giant wasp in your household. The beetles are big enough in size to defend themselves against other insects like lizards, rodents, and birds. Besides, their prominent horns and body weight keep other insects from their territorial area.

Benefits of Keeping Atlas Beetles as a Pet

Whether you should take an atlas beetle as a pet depends on your personal preference. Here are some pros of having a pet like an atlas beetle:

If you want to have an exotic pet, then atlas beetles are one for you. They have a beautiful appearance and are not regular pets.
They are not demanding. Giving them food and a proper environment is enough for them. As an atlas beetle isn’t very affectionate, you do not have to give them much time. It makes them an ideal option for busy people.
They have a relatively low lifespan. So, if you get emotionally connected with your pets easily, it might be difficult for you to bear their loss.
As the beetles are not venomous, you can safely handle them.
Beetles are herbivores and do not demand much food. You do not need to spend much on them. Giving them your leftover fruits will be enough.
Atlas beetles do not make much noise. However, they make some squeaking sounds that will not cause much disturbance.

FAQ

How strong are beetle wings?

Beetles have surprisingly strong wings despite their lightweightness. The structure and strength of beetle wings allow them to endure the demands of various movements. They can also fly quite fast.

How long can an adult beetle live in captivity?

Atlas beetles usually live for three to six months in captivity. They may live nearly a year in the wild, but in captivity, it can reduce. However, maintaining a proper environment can offer an ideal diet and can enhance their lifespan.

Why is it called Atlas Beetle?

Atlas beetles got their name from the Greek mythology giant Atlas. They got the name because of their large size. They are one of the biggest insects in the wild.

How big is an atlas beetle?

The exact size of atlas beetles can vary on different aspects such as diet, environment, temperature, etc. Male atlas beetles can grow up to 2.4 to 4.7 inches, and females can grow from 1 inch to 2.5 inches.

Do beetles like to be held?

Beetles do not show affection to their owners. However, they might like to crawl on your hands and body. They may not enjoy you holding them, but adult atlas beetles do not bite.

Conclusion

It is safe to keep atlas beetles as a pet, and it is very easy to look after them. They do not demand much food or much of your time. They may be aggressive during their initial time, but they soon behave more politely. They can be a good pet for you to spend some time with and get rid of anxiety.