walking stick

[liltattyprinces]

my daughter's friends came over with a really cool bug it's a walking stick not sure where it's from the little girl has tonnes of them they breed like rabits apparently not sure about the care or anything they said to feed it lettuce and spinache(sp) anyone with advice or info ? i could use it, thankx

[bborysow]

I've been maintaining a colony of walking sticks (unsure species name) that is native to Oregon. They must be on about the 7th or 8th generation. They eat leaves from any kind of bramble / berry bush, and rose leaves in the summer. They eat romain lettuce and leaves from my indoor orange trees during winter. Keep them in a 15gallon or bigger tank with a screen lid. Mist them well once a day for water. Room temps are fine. Use potting soil as substrate.
Get a couple stick bugs, so when they reach adult size, they will lay eggs in the substrate (you may never see the eggs). And after a couple months, the eggs hatch, and you have a gazillion little stick bugs to raise. Never throw out the substrate, at just about all times, there are viable eggs down there. Just wait for them to hatch. They are cool little guys, enjoy!

[liltattyprinces]

thank you for your reply, it's very much appericiated. they are really cool little guys i like to watch them mimick the wind...lol...they just brought me 3 more today, can i just use sticks from outside? if i clean them.

[bborysow]

Only collect tank decorations from somewhere you are sure is pesticide free. Its good to heat sterilize when ever you can to eliminate pests getting in with your stick bugs. At minimum, wash all stuff well.