Stick Insects

[Betta5]

These are sold as live food but could i keep them as pets?

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/YOUNG-INDIAN-STICK-I...VQQcmdZViewItem

There are 5 and i have a 24"x12"x12" tank spare could they go in there?
What should i feed them leaves? veg?
Should i mist them every day?

Just a few quick questions, hope you can help thanks

 

[fishboy619]

they grow to 4 inches i belive.
the tank has to be enough roo for the insect to move, at 4 inches, a 12x12x24 would be ok.
i think they need to be kept warm, but i dont think a heater is nessary, just placed in a warm room.
misting once a day would be good, and good ventalation is needed to prevent growth of mould.
bramble, raspberry, privet, hawthorn, oak, rose, and ivy are all ok for them to eat. cut small branches with laves and place into tank, either place into a small pot of soil, or into a small bag, with a bit of water in, and tied around the stem so the insects cant access the water and drown.
replace when the leaves dry out or are eaten.
as for handling, careful about it, the legs i think are weak and will pull of, hold the body if nessary, or gently push them onto your hand, or let them crawl on.
i would search on google indian stick insects and see what comes up

 

[Betta5]

Thanks about what i thought, i will do a google search

THANKS

 

[fourthtimelucky]

I kept these for a while when I was little. They make surprisingly good pets.
Instead of misting them you can line the bottom of the tank/jar with damp paper towels -- that's what I used to do. Make sure it is not scented etc. Easier to clean as you just take the whole lot out and chuck it every couple of days. But if you live in a very hot house / climate it might evaporate too quick, so up to you really.
They are real escape artists... make sure you keep the lid on tight!
Also... make sure you get rid of the eggs in time if you don't want a million trillion babies. They are very cute but finding homes for them can be tricky (unless you want to ebay them as live food too!)

I fed mine privet mostly, with various other treats, & they did very well on that.

You can handle them but be careful... better to pick up twig & allow sticky to walk onto your hand than grab him/her. If you have to pick them up gently ease two fingers under torso between leg joints and lift very slowly -- but always better to coax them on to paper / twig etc as they tend to grip hard onto things... and then leave a leg behind However, leg loss doesn't seem to be a major problem for them -- i suspect the weak leg joints have evolved as a way of avoiding predators? bird grabs leg, flies off with leg, sticky lives to munch another leaf? -- and as long as they don't lose multiple limbs all off the same side they tend to do okay, just sway a bit as they walk.

I used to have some toy plastic ladders which they used to mosey across to get food etc... very cute. They don't have that alarming tendency to scuttle -- fairly slow moving (until you leave the lid off, then they can get from home base to your underwear drawer in very little time at all...)

One warning -- don't let them crawl on your head. Detangling them from hair = not fun.

 

[demonmagus]

yup I had some of these - only lived 8-12 months (think that's their 'length')

great fun - fed mine bramble - also they did have babies, too much to handle lol - don't ask me how but I found one crawling on the inside of our car

I can't remember if these guys have wings but mine certainly did - just made them more fun lol, also the live food thing is also done for the 'rarer' species of stick insect - because selling pets is illegal (well I'm sure posting is) but live food isn't included

might buy some more

 

[demonmagus]

this is from another stick insect ebay page:

'To comply with Ebay rules these stick insects are being sold as live food for reptiles or fish.'

 

[Betta5]

this is from another stick insect ebay page:

'To comply with Ebay rules these stick insects are being sold as live food for reptiles or fish.'

yeah that have to do that or that cant sell them init,

 

[Genie]

pets at home in england have some pretty cool stick nsects for sale. Had considered them, but have no more space

 

[demonmagus]

pets at home in england have some pretty cool stick nsects for sale. Had considered them, but have no more space

£5 each though - I bet you can find them cheaper - whatever species they are