fluffyfeet Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Hi I was wondering if anyone had any experience with these fascinating creatures. My son's cub scout leader has given him some stick insects but I don't really know anything about them. I know what they eat and that they like a warm humid environment but that's about it. I wasn't there when they were handed over and OH assumed I'd know what to do - Men! They are very young, dead straight and about 3 inches long. I think a couple may have died, unless they are shedding. I will be seeing his scout leader on Monday but am worried they might all perish before then. Thanks in advance. Dawn x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Have a look **here** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 We had about 80 indian stick insects until we gave 50 away. We started off with three. We feed ours ivy, I put a potted plant in the cage with them, they will also need misting once a day as they will drink the water droplets. We have ours in an EXo Terra vivarium. They need height more than width. They usually live for about a year, our original three laid thier eggs and died shortly after. Make sure you have no small gaps in your cage as they are brilliant escape artists, we have found them in the bathroom, the kitchen and I even found one in the fish tank, its was still alive although it had lost a leg. You can pick the small ones up by the tail although they will curl it up at ypu. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 You can pick the small ones up by the tail although they will curl it up at ypu. Sorry but - I managed snails, I don't mind fish, I can cope with all kinds of poo, but I couldn't pick up something that looked like a stick then curled it's sticky tail up! It's just wrong! Oooooh, it's making me shiver just thinking about it!!! Good job somebody loves them! And aren't schools and the like great for offloading their unwanted creatures? BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Just to add that you really should not pick up stickinsects, especially young ones, by their tail. Young nymphs are very fragile and you can easily damage them. Also, you wouldn't do it to a cat or a dog so why do it to an insect? It is far better to gently wake them up and let them walk on to you. Most will do this, however, if that fails, gently pick them up in the middle of their bodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 It is far better to gently wake them up and let them walk on to you. Most will do this, however, if that fails, gently pick them up in the middle of their bodies. NOOOOOOOOO BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Lewis wants some for Biology We used to have giant african land snail but they 'retired' and these would be to learn about Might suggest it and see what thay say ... probably no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ness3103 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 when my daughter was at middle school ( a few years ago) she was given a stick insect by her friend. i thought it was sweet and didn't have a problem with it until i ended up overrun with them i didn't realise they didn't need a male to reproduce so it was a shock, and they escaped on a regular basis, in they end i took them to a local animal center where they lived happily ( hopefully they didn't become someones dinner ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted December 21, 2009 Author Share Posted December 21, 2009 Quick update - they are now 4 x the size and I've had to get a bigger tank, much better as i couldn't see them well enough before. Was chatting to someone the other day and mentioned that they don't seem to eat much during the day but the bramble was half missing in a morning. Answer - they're nocturnal - Doh! Yes I am blonde Dawn x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
