i recently purchased 5 northern walking sticks (Diapheromera femorata) from a petshop and over the past week 3 have died, im totally puzzled ! they become lethargic then lose a leg or two then slowly die.they have been eating fine and i mist the tank twice a day.somebody please help!!
need walking stick help!!!!!
- Thread starter tronarat
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2005
- Messages
- 792
The humidity might be too high. Those sticks don't need too much moisture. Try spraying them once every other day and see if they do better.
What are you feeding them?
What are you feeding them?
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2008
- Messages
- 644
Phasmids
I was raising some 6 inch phasmids I got from a local petshop (can't remember the name) but they were feeding well on romaine lettuce. I had them for months but was buying my lettuce from a local supermarket and one day got some lettuce I believe that was tainted with insecticide. All 20 of my phasmids died within an hour of giving them the new lettuce. It has always made me wonder what we are eating.
I was raising some 6 inch phasmids I got from a local petshop (can't remember the name) but they were feeding well on romaine lettuce. I had them for months but was buying my lettuce from a local supermarket and one day got some lettuce I believe that was tainted with insecticide. All 20 of my phasmids died within an hour of giving them the new lettuce. It has always made me wonder what we are eating.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2006
- Messages
- 2,301
It's also possible they're adults and at the end of their life cycle. Rose leaves should be fine (or anything in the rose family, including most brambles).
I've also heard that romaine lettuce provides incomplete nutrion for phasmids -- I've witnessed cultures simply not grow (but remain alive) when fed exclusively romaine.
Future tip, if you keep sticks and live in the US, don't say where you're at. Or better yet, don't say you live in the US.
I've also heard that romaine lettuce provides incomplete nutrion for phasmids -- I've witnessed cultures simply not grow (but remain alive) when fed exclusively romaine.
Future tip, if you keep sticks and live in the US, don't say where you're at. Or better yet, don't say you live in the US.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2006
- Messages
- 2,301
I've been interrogated by USDA APHIS officers. It's only legal if they are native to your state.
I just checked one of my field guides to look up their range, and it looks like you're OK with these guys as long as you don't live in the westermost states. (This is why living in Oregon sucks
) But Barabootom didn't mention a species. If they're dead, though, he can't get in trouble.
Anywho, sorry for getting your thread sidetracked.
I just checked one of my field guides to look up their range, and it looks like you're OK with these guys as long as you don't live in the westermost states. (This is why living in Oregon sucks
) But Barabootom didn't mention a species. If they're dead, though, he can't get in trouble.Anywho, sorry for getting your thread sidetracked.
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2004
- Messages
- 557
Hello,
Diapheromemra femorata tends to be a little delicate on their feeding habits specially wild individuals, sometimes they do need their host plant.
Anyways you can try to feed Oak,Bramble (Rubus sp), or Rose.
They could also be adults and on the last days of their season as mentioned before.
regards
francisco
Diapheromemra femorata tends to be a little delicate on their feeding habits specially wild individuals, sometimes they do need their host plant.
Anyways you can try to feed Oak,Bramble (Rubus sp), or Rose.
They could also be adults and on the last days of their season as mentioned before.
regards
francisco