About two months ago we bought a pet 甲虫 (Rhinoceros Beetle). We call him 「カブちゃん」 (Kabu-chan)…he was given this name because “Rhinoceros Beetle” is Kabuto-mushi in Japanese (and the suffix chan is often added to nicknames (usually girls)…kun is usually used for young boys. There are cases where chan is OK for a boy’s nickname…so, although our beetle’s male, he’s “Kabu-chan” because “Kabu-kun” is odd. (Maybe that’s confusing if you don’t understand Japanese culture!?)).
Anyways, we often buy (or sometimes catch) 甲虫 (Rhinoceros Beetles) every Summer…because, like most Japanese kids, my kids like 甲虫 (Rhinoceros Beetles). They are a popular pet in Japan in the summertime. The オス (males ♂) are especially popular (and more expensive) because they have long horns…and they fight each other (for the メス (females ♀)).
Japanese boys like to watch the male beetles fight each other. There’s even a game in Japan about fighting beetles (called 「むしキング」 (Mushi King)) that young boys like.
The life span of 甲虫 (Rhinoceros Beetle) isn’t very long. Less than half a year (late Spring until early Autumn). So our 「カブちゃん」 (Kabu-chan) probably won’t be with us much longer 😦
So, today I was holding him and he walked up my arm up to my back. For an old guy, he’s still pretty 元気 (energetic)!
While the beetle was walking on me, my wife took a few photos of him:
Tokyo Five 
Mom…
>I have never heard of…someone has a beetle for a pet.
People have pet fish, mice, turtles, iguanas…even pet rocks! 😉
A Rhino Beetle makes a good pet. They’re fun to watch and hold, they don’t bite, are easy to care for. But they have a short life-span 😦
>new pet beetle..have you named him (or her) yet?
Not yet. It’s still just a larvae. Won’t be born til next summer.
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So sorry to hear about the death of your little beatle. I know you all must be missing him very much! That is something that I have never heard of before, that someone has a beetle for a pet. I have heard of keeping rabbits, pigs, and even snakes (ugh, I get the ughies just thinking of a pet snake, but it is true). I am glad to hear that you have a new pet beetle, thanks to the teacher. have you named him (or her) yet? love Mom ps the beatle games sound like they would be fun for the kids. the male beatles are bigger and have horns and fight for a female? that sounds right, just like humans would do.
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Don’t you think he’s cute?
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