A giant African flower beetle, one of the heaviest insects in the world, with bold white-and-brown adults. Notoriously demanding to breed because the protein-hungry larvae need a high-protein diet rather than ordinary wood substrate.
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Among the largest and heaviest insects on earth; adults 50-110 mm, males to ~100+ mm with a Y-shaped clypeal horn. Striking brown-and-white or reddish patternin
Lifespan
1–2 years
Social needs
solo
Native region
Tropical equatorial Africa
Origin
Old World
Climate
🌴 Tropical
Family
Scarabaeidae
Genus
Goliathus
Part of the Beetles
Kept beetles (order Coleoptera), including rhinoceros, stag, and flower beetles, are display invertebrates with a buried larval (grub) stage that feeds on decaying wood or leaf litter and a short-lived adult stage. Most are docile and harmless to handle, but many are non-native and tightly regulated, with live import banned or permit-restricted in countries like the US.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Adult display enclosure
18 × 12 × 12 in, warm + humid
Goliathus adults are among the heaviest insects and need a sturdy warm/humid display with deep flake-soil for digging, cork bark, and jelly/banana feeders. Larvae need very different care: deep flake-soil substrate with protein supplements for 6–12 months at 22–26 °C.
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Adult bioactive vivarium
24 × 18 × 18 in, deep substrate
A larger heated vivarium with deep substrate, multiple cork hides, climbing branches, and stable warmth (~25 °C). Larvae are reared individually in 4–8 L containers with protein-rich flake-soil.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Adult display + dedicated larva tubs
36 × 18 × 18 in adult + larva rack
A spacious heated bioactive adult display alongside a dedicated larva-rearing rack with temperature control and protein-supplemented flake-soil. Required for full size and successful breeding.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg
Insects begin as eggs, laid singly or in clusters on or near a food source. Egg size, shape, and incubation time vary widely; some are glued to surfaces, others inserted into plant tissue or soil.
Photo coming soon
Larva / Nymph
The immature stage either looks grub- or caterpillar-like and very different from the adult (a larva, in beetles, flies, and butterflies) or like a wingless miniature adult (a nymph, in roaches, mantises, and stick insects). It eats and molts repeatedly as it grows.
Photo coming soon
Pupa
In insects with complete metamorphosis, the larva pupates — often in a cocoon, chrysalis, or sealed cell — and its body is reorganized into the adult form. Nymph-developing insects skip a true pupa and molt straight to the adult.
Adult
The adult is the sexually mature, usually winged stage with the species' full coloration and form. Adults are typically the dispersing and reproducing stage, and in many insects do not grow further once mature.
Habitat & enclosure
House adults singly (males fight); a roomy 30-40 cm enclosure suits an adult, with moist substrate, sturdy branches, bark, and leaf litter for these heavy, strong climbers and fliers. Larvae are reared individually in deep substrate but, unlike most scarabs, need substantial added animal protein (see diet). Keep warm at 24-28C (75-82F) with high humidity (~70-80% RH). No UVB needed. A very secure lid is essential given their size and flight power.
Substrate
Larvae use deep (20-30 cm) flake soil / decayed leaf-litter substrate as a base, regularly supplemented with high-protein feed placed on or just under the surface. Adults need 5-10 cm of moist coco-fiber or soil with bark and leaf litter. Keep damp but not waterlogged and remove spoiling protein and mold promptly.
Equipment & setup
Use a large, well-ventilated enclosure with a very secure lid (the beetles are large, heavy, and fly). Maintain consistent warmth (24-28C) via ambient heat or a thermostat-controlled mat. A spray bottle maintains humidity. No filtration, UVB, or basking lamp required, but rigorous spot-cleaning around protein feedings is essential.
Diet
Adults take beetle jelly and ripe soft fruit (banana, mango). The challenge is the larvae: Goliathus grubs are unusually carnivorous/protein-dependent and will not thrive on wood alone. Keepers feed them a base of decayed leaf litter and flake soil heavily supplemented with high-protein foods such as dog/cat kibble, fish flake, or commercial 'beetle protein jelly/pellets'. Insufficient protein causes stunting and failure to pupate; excess uneaten protein molds quickly, so feeding must be carefully balanced.
Behavior & temperament
Adults are powerful, day-active, and strong fliers that grip hard with clawed legs. They do not bite or sting harmfully but can scratch, and the sheer size makes drops dangerous to the beetle. Males are aggressive toward each other and must be housed alone. Handling is possible briefly with firm support and low height, but minimize it. Rated advanced primarily because of the difficult, protein-driven larval rearing.
Health
The cycle runs about 1-2 years with adults living a few months. The critical bottleneck is larval nutrition: protein deficiency stunts grubs and prevents pupation, while spoiled protein breeds mold, mites, and fatal infections, so substrate hygiene is demanding. Provide deep substrate and an undisturbed pupal cell (they form a hard cocoon-like cell). Newly emerged adults need a maturation period before feeding heavily and breeding.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Success hinges on dialing in larval protein: offer measured amounts, remove leftovers before they mold, and keep individual grubs separate to prevent cannibalism. Leave pupal cells undisturbed. In the US, Goliathus are tightly regulated exotic scarabs: live import, interstate movement, and possession require a USDA APHIS plant-pest permit, realistically only issued to research or exhibition institutions, so private keeping is illegal for most hobbyists. Verify legality and obtain permits before acquiring.
