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Indian Stick Insects: Care Notes www.stickinsects.co.uk, email: info@stickinsects.co.uk Housing for Eggs and Newly Hatched Stick Insects Eggs and newly hatched Stick Insects can be kept in containers like our Stick Insect Hatchery Boxes which are made of of clear plastic, approximately 7 cm x 7 cm x 7 cm in size with a lightly ventilated lid. This enables you to see clearly if the eggs are hatching and to make sure that there is food such as fresh ivy leaves readily available. Eggs can take up to 6 or 7 months to hatch after laying but we supply eggs which have been laid a few months so you don't have so long to wait. The Size of the Cage for Larger Stick Insects As the Stick Insects grow they will need a bigger container like our Stick Insect Cage, which is made of high quality clear plastic with a ventilated lid. In choosing a home for your Stick Insects, an important thing to remember is that it should be at least twice as high as the length of the insect. This is because stick insects slough their skin from time to time and it is easier for them to do this if they can hang from near the top of the container. Temperature Indian Stick Insects do well at normal room temperature. Don't put them too near a radiator or in direct sunlight. They can even be kept in an unheated shed or garage in the summer but must be brought indoors in the winter, as they can't tolerate temperatures below about 4°C. Feeding Your Stick Insects Needless to say, make sure the leaves you give your Stick Insects for eating have not been sprayed with insecticide! Fly sprays will also have to be banned from the house! Three of the most convenient foods for Stick Insects are blackberry (bramble) and raspberry leaves and ivy. The advantage of ivy is that it is available all year round and it keeps fresh for several days in the cage. When Food is Scarce If you live in a city centre where suitable leaves are difficult to obtain we can supply you with them. To avoid our standard post and packaging charge, send us a jiffy bag with your own name and address and two first class stamps on it, whenever you require leaves, plus a £1 coin and we will send them to you. This DIY packaging strictly applies to leaves only. Keeping Food Fresh in the Cage To keep the food plant fresh for longer don't put the stems in a pot of water, as small stick insects searching for a drink may drop in and drown. The safest thing is to use a pot of Oasis, which absorbs water like a sponge. Just stick the end of your ivy stems into it and they will stay fresh for days. We can supply a suitably sized pot of Oasis. Drinking In the wild, Stick Insects drink the dew and rain droplets from leaves. It is a good idea therefore, especially if the insects are kept in a well ventilated container like an animal house with nylon netting on the top, to spray the leaves every day or so with a fine Mister, (see our Order Form). Spray the leaves - not the Stick Insects - very gently so as just to wet the surface, without allowing puddles to form in the bottom of the container which might cause small insects to drown or mildew to form. Playing Dead Indian stick insects have a habit of playing dead if roughly handled. They become rigid like a pencil with their front legs held out in front beyond their antennae, and their other legs held close to their body. The reason for this behaviour, of course, is that birds, lizards and other predators will think they are sticks and won't eat them. They will stay in this state for several hours, causing some customers to think they are dead if they arrive like this in the post. Blowing gently on their front legs will sometimes bring them out of this state. If not, just leave them alone and they will eventually spring back into action. Leg Biting Indian Stick Insects have an annoying habit of, apparently accidentally, nibbling each other's legs off. Don't worry too much about the loss of a leg or two as young stick insects have the amazing ability to grow them back again, although this ability is lost in the adult. Avoid overcrowding and leg biting will be less of a problem. Ordering More Equipment If you need cages, food, Oasis, netting etc or more Stick Insects, just complete our Order Form online and pay using PayPal or print one out and send a cheque to the above address. Hygiene Stick Insects are just about the cleanest pet you can get, but don't forget to wash your hands after handling them and their food plants as you would after gardening or touching a pet dog or cat. CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW USING PAYPAL ã Trevor Smith BSc PhD 2007 |