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Horned Cave Beetle

A round, omnivorous beetle slightly larger than a horse. Most notable features of the horned cave beetle are that they have a blue carapace, red eyes, and lovely brown beards. The males have a long horn at the front of their bodies. Rare male beetles will have an exceptionally long horn, that it spends most nights sharpening against the stone floor while feeding. It grazes on cave fungus, but can be adapted to feeding in a pasture. Has an ornery disposition, and tolerates nearby dwarves, usually.

• Beard can be sheared (every six months)
  
• Eggs can be gathered for cooking
  
• Makes a good pet
  
• Can be trained for war and hunting
  
• Harvestable; chitin, horn, teeth, meat, beard

1. Ensure that the female egg layer has had some time with a male before a nest is introduced. This will increase the chance that the eggs are not infertile.
   
2. The beetles require a fairly large habitat, roughly a 7x7 pasture for each beetle. Be sure the mother has fed adequately before laying eggs, because she will stay on the nest until the eggs have hatched. Thus may starve to death.
   
3. Once the mother has hatched a clutch of eggs, she will attempt to secure another nest immediately, and in her weakened state may starve with a second clutch.
   
4. Necroscourge has advised that a trainer is highly recommended for the care of horned cave beetles. This can be accomplished by going to the pet/livestock screen and selecting a skilled trainer, who will feed/water the beetle when it is in need. I would also think this should reduce the size of the pasture needed. The other option is to remove access to a nestbox after a clutch has hatched so the mother may feed and recover for a time.

Original concept and raws by Kruggsmash and Squamous, first introduced in Scorchfountain.
Revisions to original raws by Necroscourge.

Raws have been used without permission.
This is not a challenge to any rights by original authors.
Please give credit where credit is due.