stick insects
- Thread starter phil2
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Indian stick insects, Carausius morosus (do an image google). Very, very common; do well at room temps; eat privet, bramble and ivy. Parthenogenetic, so if you only want one (though there's no real reason to keep only one 
), remember to destroy any eggs.
Dunno if any stick insect would do in an 8x5x5 tank, though. They need enough height - at least twice adult length - to hang from a stick or the food plant as they moult. Indians are about 3-4". Personally I'd try to give any sticks about 12" of height.
If you want something to fill the tank that's easy to care for, I'd recommend a couple of medium-large roaches. But don't let that put you off stick insects.
), remember to destroy any eggs.Dunno if any stick insect would do in an 8x5x5 tank, though. They need enough height - at least twice adult length - to hang from a stick or the food plant as they moult. Indians are about 3-4". Personally I'd try to give any sticks about 12" of height.
If you want something to fill the tank that's easy to care for, I'd recommend a couple of medium-large roaches. But don't let that put you off stick insects.
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i think that a 10 gallon tank would be plenty
they can live in a 5 but they need hight to shed properly
Medauroidea extradentata are a very prolific species but they are fun to
a true pet phasmid would be extatsoma tiaratum or eurycantha calcarata
they need alot of space tho
thanx froggy
they can live in a 5 but they need hight to shed properly
Medauroidea extradentata are a very prolific species but they are fun to
a true pet phasmid would be extatsoma tiaratum or eurycantha calcarata
they need alot of space tho
thanx froggy
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I don't know how beginnerish Eurycantha calcarata is -- they can draw blood with spines on the hind legs, the females require soil to deposit eggs in, and some members of that genus (not positive on calcarata) can secrete / spray defensive chemicals.
@ phil2: if you live in the eastern half of the US, there should be some native species you can find. Just go out on a warm night with a flashlight (but you'd have to wait until there's such a thing as a warm night). If you live anywhere tropical, you're also likely to find some.
@ phil2: if you live in the eastern half of the US, there should be some native species you can find. Just go out on a warm night with a flashlight (but you'd have to wait until there's such a thing as a warm night). If you live anywhere tropical, you're also likely to find some.
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umm im a begginner lol
i only had like a month or 2 first hand experience with phasmids before i got the calcarata
no spray and they only prick you if you relly piss them off
mayby a male hisser would work
cheap and fun
can be tamed so they wont hiss or attack
thanx froggy
i only had like a month or 2 first hand experience with phasmids before i got the calcarata
no spray and they only prick you if you relly piss them off
mayby a male hisser would work
cheap and fun
can be tamed so they wont hiss or attack
thanx froggy
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Easy to keep and feed
The Eurycantha calcarata are one of the easier to feed and keep. A good choice for a larger species and they eat a wide variety of leaves.
Digby Rigby use this email balboa28279@mypacks.net
The Eurycantha calcarata are one of the easier to feed and keep. A good choice for a larger species and they eat a wide variety of leaves.
Digby Rigby use this email balboa28279@mypacks.net
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eurycantha calcarata eat ficus benji wich killes extatsoma tiaratum
as well as romain on some occations and tons of oak
thanx froggy
as well as romain on some occations and tons of oak
thanx froggy
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I use to have a Eurycantha calcarta... was a very aggressive little bugger... use to always try to spur me. Lucky i would wear gardening gloves!;P
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I used to have a pair of 'em. Great bugs. Both were fairly docile and handleable. The biggest problem was that they had big claws and liked to make sure they had a firm grip...
Maybe avoid Anisomorpha buprestoides, in Florida.
thats it ,i only have a small 8inch by 5 by 5
that adds up to about a 0.8 gallon,but i cant get bigger,but its a shame as i really want stickies,
i dont live in usa im in the UK.
questions,
1.can they be kept alone
2.is there lifespan 1 year?
3.were do i get the food ,i dont get it from the fgarden as we dont have any kind.we have raspery plants ,but that wont be with us all year?
sorry no way am i getting cockroaches,hate them lol.
and can they breed themselves,females?
and can they fly?
that adds up to about a 0.8 gallon,but i cant get bigger,but its a shame as i really want stickies,
i dont live in usa im in the UK.
questions,
1.can they be kept alone
2.is there lifespan 1 year?
3.were do i get the food ,i dont get it from the fgarden as we dont have any kind.we have raspery plants ,but that wont be with us all year?
sorry no way am i getting cockroaches,hate them lol.
and can they breed themselves,females?
and can they fly?
Last edited:
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The answers to some of your questions depend on species. Some species can live considerably longer than a year, while others considerably less. Some can inded fly.
A single ADULT walking stick of a smaller species might live OK in your cage. Cage height is very important for molting, which they need verticle space to do properly (they hang upside down). Adults don't molt, however, so hight isn't as big an issue.
The females of most species can reproduce through parthenogenesis (that is, without a male and the babies are essencially clones of the mother), and some reproduce that way exclusively. Some species will drop or even fling eggs and these tend to be dry tolerant and may hatch even if you don't do anything with them. Some species bury their eggs, and these are more delicate.
Not sure what food plants you'd have in the UK, but the rasberry leaves you mention can be collected and frozen when available and thawed during the winter.
Here in the US, USDA regs have pretty much squashed the exotic phasmid hobby, but as you can see from this thread, many hobbyists still have them. However, many hobbyists have also been visited by USDA agents and had their animals seized. Although I totally disagree with the justification of the regs, the hassle of dealing with the USDA is not worth it IMO and I only keep native US species.
There's a UK based hobbyist organization called the Phasmid Study Group, I assume they still exist anyway. You might be able to get in contact with them and they might have more information on food plants availble to you locally.
Wade
A single ADULT walking stick of a smaller species might live OK in your cage. Cage height is very important for molting, which they need verticle space to do properly (they hang upside down). Adults don't molt, however, so hight isn't as big an issue.
The females of most species can reproduce through parthenogenesis (that is, without a male and the babies are essencially clones of the mother), and some reproduce that way exclusively. Some species will drop or even fling eggs and these tend to be dry tolerant and may hatch even if you don't do anything with them. Some species bury their eggs, and these are more delicate.
Not sure what food plants you'd have in the UK, but the rasberry leaves you mention can be collected and frozen when available and thawed during the winter.
Here in the US, USDA regs have pretty much squashed the exotic phasmid hobby, but as you can see from this thread, many hobbyists still have them. However, many hobbyists have also been visited by USDA agents and had their animals seized. Although I totally disagree with the justification of the regs, the hassle of dealing with the USDA is not worth it IMO and I only keep native US species.
There's a UK based hobbyist organization called the Phasmid Study Group, I assume they still exist anyway. You might be able to get in contact with them and they might have more information on food plants availble to you locally.
Wade
right id prob get a indian stick
or any sizeable to a 8x5x5
its a 8x5x5 of one of these
http://www.robharvey.com/reptiles/images/standard-faunarium.jpg
so i could turn it on the side? and then it will be a 8 TALL 5 across and 5 back.
questions
1.you tell me the best species for handling ,grows to a size thats happy in that tank and can be kept alone(id get 2 if had 2).possibly a green one,and easy to care for.
2.can the indian ones fly,will they?
3.if it breeds i dont want babies so what do i do with the eggs
4.and do i get the twigs etc from a shop or garden.
5. the feeding cant i get something i can buy from a superstore and do they eat anything live.
or any sizeable to a 8x5x5
its a 8x5x5 of one of these
http://www.robharvey.com/reptiles/images/standard-faunarium.jpg
so i could turn it on the side? and then it will be a 8 TALL 5 across and 5 back.
questions
1.you tell me the best species for handling ,grows to a size thats happy in that tank and can be kept alone(id get 2 if had 2).possibly a green one,and easy to care for.
2.can the indian ones fly,will they?
3.if it breeds i dont want babies so what do i do with the eggs
4.and do i get the twigs etc from a shop or garden.
5. the feeding cant i get something i can buy from a superstore and do they eat anything live.
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- Aug 6, 2006
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good to see you on these boards phil (its ed from the reptile room forums) like i said phasmids need quite a bit of height
hi ed
erm yes these boards are great i know of none of stickies so i came here,how big a height ,would turning it on the side be of any help?
p.s i see your in liverpool,so am i ,pm me about were in liverpool,do you know of any reptile shops in liverpool.
erm yes these boards are great i know of none of stickies so i came here,how big a height ,would turning it on the side be of any help?
p.s i see your in liverpool,so am i ,pm me about were in liverpool,do you know of any reptile shops in liverpool.
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The Indian stick insects don't fly to the best of my knowledge. If you don't want numerous babies, you can simply freeze the eggs (at least overnight, longer is adviseable).
To the others on here, it's a bit relieving to know E. calcarata isn't as scary as I initially thought. I only have eggs so far -- do these have to be in soil in order to hatch (I'm aware the females deposit them that way), or are damp paper towels sufficient?
To the others on here, it's a bit relieving to know E. calcarata isn't as scary as I initially thought. I only have eggs so far -- do these have to be in soil in order to hatch (I'm aware the females deposit them that way), or are damp paper towels sufficient?
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No substrate is required, just be sure to mist occaisionaly. For food, I'd reccomend taking clippings from just about any bramble (or rose). They'll eat it dry, but if you can put the stems in water, the food will last longer and be more "natural" for the sticks. I imagine one or two indians should fit comfortably in that container, but not many more.
no thats fine i only want 1 or 2
will 1 be happy alone
can they be kept together say i got 2
so male and male or male and female or female and female?
you tell me the best species for handling ,grows to a size thats happy in that tank and can be kept alone(id get 2 if had 2).possibly a green one,and easy to care for.
the feeding cant i get something i can buy from a superstore and do they eat anything live.
will 1 be happy alone
can they be kept together say i got 2
so male and male or male and female or female and female?
you tell me the best species for handling ,grows to a size thats happy in that tank and can be kept alone(id get 2 if had 2).possibly a green one,and easy to care for.
the feeding cant i get something i can buy from a superstore and do they eat anything live.
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- Oct 22, 2006
- Messages
- 2,301
Phasmids aren't social, but they are gregarious. Basically they don't give a rip how many others there are. And you're likely to only get females (I've never seen a male Indian stick).
As far as "best species for handling," almost all phasmids are handleable. The few exceptions are the ones with huge spines that they use defensively or the ones that spray / secrete defensive chemicals. Indian sticks do neither of these. They vary from brown to brownish green. If you just wanted green, I'd reccomend Ramulus artemis, but they may grow too big for that container (http://www.mga.com.pl/~adampl/ofertyhodowcow/apopiel/o144b.jpg)
Almost all sticks are easy to care for. Just give them something to eat, a little moisture, and room to molt.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by something you can buy from a superstore. If you're referring to plants that you can buy in nurseries, they'd probably eat some of those, but nursery plants are probably too small to provide sufficient foliage.
If you mean live as in live plants, yes -- as long as it's an acceptable food source (anything in the rose family or oak leaves are generally the best). If you mean live as in live animals, no. Phasmids are entirely herbivorous.
As far as "best species for handling," almost all phasmids are handleable. The few exceptions are the ones with huge spines that they use defensively or the ones that spray / secrete defensive chemicals. Indian sticks do neither of these. They vary from brown to brownish green. If you just wanted green, I'd reccomend Ramulus artemis, but they may grow too big for that container (http://www.mga.com.pl/~adampl/ofertyhodowcow/apopiel/o144b.jpg)
Almost all sticks are easy to care for. Just give them something to eat, a little moisture, and room to molt.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by something you can buy from a superstore. If you're referring to plants that you can buy in nurseries, they'd probably eat some of those, but nursery plants are probably too small to provide sufficient foliage.
If you mean live as in live plants, yes -- as long as it's an acceptable food source (anything in the rose family or oak leaves are generally the best). If you mean live as in live animals, no. Phasmids are entirely herbivorous.
ok thanks
id like a green indian one
well we shall see
could i put the eggs outside
,they would prob die though as its too cold and birds would eat them.
yes what small plant would fit in a 8x5x5 ,with room to molt,when do they molt, i need more info on the moulting process
i ment from like ASDA OR TESCO food you can buy?
coz i have nothing in the garden.
sorry im new,,just learning but youre all being so nice :}
do i spray the tank once a day
also my sister will need to look after it does she just feed them,and spray
what about there wee/poos.
and what do they feel like?
id like a green indian one
well we shall see
could i put the eggs outside
,they would prob die though as its too cold and birds would eat them.
yes what small plant would fit in a 8x5x5 ,with room to molt,when do they molt, i need more info on the moulting process
i ment from like ASDA OR TESCO food you can buy?
coz i have nothing in the garden.
sorry im new,,just learning but youre all being so nice :}
do i spray the tank once a day
also my sister will need to look after it does she just feed them,and spray
what about there wee/poos.
and what do they feel like?