Stick insects have quite a few names. First of all the order to which they belong is called either Phasmatodea or Phasmida. Then they are known as stick insects in Europe and Australasia, but walking sticks or stick-bugs in America and Canada. Some also get called phasmids, leaf insects and ghost insects.
Needless to say, most of them look like twigs, sticks or leaves. Most stick insects come from South East Asia, but they are abundant in many tropical climates including Australia and the southern states of America. Most of the stick insects that are kept as pets are Indian (or Laboratory) stick insects and they grow to about four inches long and live for about a year.
There are very exotic species of stick insect like the Vietnamese thorny stick insect and the pink-winged flying stick insect, but they are more difficult to look after. It is better to begin with the Indian common form. They will live fairly happily in a vivarium, which is an aquarium for reptiles and insects.
Except for providing fresh food and water from time to time and taking out old food, there is no maintenance needed for these animals. They will require a relatively warm climate but that is not difficult to arrange with a heater, a thermostat and a timer.
Food is not difficult for common stick insects, The most popular foodstuffs given are privet and lettuce, but they also like ivy, oak, bramble, blueberry and raspberry. You have to put enough of these plants in the vivarium to give cover for the residents so that they do not feel out in the open and at risk but not so much that you never get sight of them.
Make sure that there are lots of air holes in the vivarium, but for the benefit of security, they ought to be covered with fly screen or netting, because these creatures can wriggle through small openings. The tanks should be kept at 70F during the day and 60F at night with moderate humidity. They can be permitted to forage for food at will, but be particular that the water supply is very shallow, because they been known to fall in and drown.
You will be surprised to discover that the overwhelming majority of Indian stick insects are female, but that they do not require a male to have fertile eggs. Young become capable of laying eggs after their sixth moult, all of which moults they consume. Stick insects can lay hundreds of eggs which just fall down among the leaves on the floor of the vivarium.
If you want to hatch them out, spray a little water on them to simulate light rain and they should hatch. If you do not want to be troubled with them, burn the contents of the tank after the last adult has passed away. You might need a permit to keep stick insects, especially in the United States..
Needless to say, most of them look like twigs, sticks or leaves. Most stick insects come from South East Asia, but they are abundant in many tropical climates including Australia and the southern states of America. Most of the stick insects that are kept as pets are Indian (or Laboratory) stick insects and they grow to about four inches long and live for about a year.
There are very exotic species of stick insect like the Vietnamese thorny stick insect and the pink-winged flying stick insect, but they are more difficult to look after. It is better to begin with the Indian common form. They will live fairly happily in a vivarium, which is an aquarium for reptiles and insects.
Except for providing fresh food and water from time to time and taking out old food, there is no maintenance needed for these animals. They will require a relatively warm climate but that is not difficult to arrange with a heater, a thermostat and a timer.
Food is not difficult for common stick insects, The most popular foodstuffs given are privet and lettuce, but they also like ivy, oak, bramble, blueberry and raspberry. You have to put enough of these plants in the vivarium to give cover for the residents so that they do not feel out in the open and at risk but not so much that you never get sight of them.
Make sure that there are lots of air holes in the vivarium, but for the benefit of security, they ought to be covered with fly screen or netting, because these creatures can wriggle through small openings. The tanks should be kept at 70F during the day and 60F at night with moderate humidity. They can be permitted to forage for food at will, but be particular that the water supply is very shallow, because they been known to fall in and drown.
You will be surprised to discover that the overwhelming majority of Indian stick insects are female, but that they do not require a male to have fertile eggs. Young become capable of laying eggs after their sixth moult, all of which moults they consume. Stick insects can lay hundreds of eggs which just fall down among the leaves on the floor of the vivarium.
If you want to hatch them out, spray a little water on them to simulate light rain and they should hatch. If you do not want to be troubled with them, burn the contents of the tank after the last adult has passed away. You might need a permit to keep stick insects, especially in the United States..
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on a number of subjects, but is currently involved with finding a home remededy for mosquito bites. If you would like to know more, please go to our web site at Getting Rid of Mosquito Bites.
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