Andamans Stick Bugs!

[jarich]

Ive been trying to get some more variety for my insectivores so I purchased a starter kit for stick bugs (sceptrophasma hispidulum). Got this package in the mail when I got home today.

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/jrichholt/photo4.jpg

Apparently they are really simple to breed, but Ill let you know how it goes. They are pretty cute, and unlike the rest of the feeders, they arent hard to keep a hold of. Not sure how the reptiles will take to them, but I like them already!

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff412/jrichholt/photo3.jpg

[DeesBalls]

Those are really cool!! i always wanted some type of bug like that!!

what is with the q-tip?

[Jay]

Neat, I especially like the one that looks like a stick.
Q-tip for moisture?

[jarich]

Im not sure exactly, except that from what I am reading online, a Q-tip seems a common tool to use for gathering them on. There was a damp paper towel in the bottom for moisture so I dont think that was the reason, but like I said Im pretty clueless at this point.

[ZARADOZIA]

Hmmm...would these be healthy for Beardies?

[jarich]

Yep, they are one of the animals that will soon be munching them down.

[Norm66]

Cool! I've always loved stick bugs.

[stephanbakir]

They are great, I bred them in the past... an by bred them I mean I had 2 for a science project and ended up with a few 100 by the end of the year...

[jarich]

Wow, thats great! Ya, everything Ive read about them says they are REALLY prolific, which is perfect. Always good to have a food source like that for all the hungry mouths.

[alessia55]

I would totally be interested in learning how they mate and how they give birth/lay eggs/whatever insects do :p

[stephanbakir]

They are illegal in canada btw, for any canadians that might want them.

[spots]

They are illegal in canada btw, for any canadians that might want them.

All of Canada? or just certain provinces?

[lady_bug87]

ah crap Canada Sucks sometimes

[stephanbakir]

All of canada. Stick insects and mantids are against the law.

That being said, animal control and bylaw is complaint driven, and as long as no1 complains your fine. I've got a clutch of mantid eggs that should hatch in the spring, cant wait.

[snake man12]

Stop right there criminal scum!!!! J.K

[beardeds4life]

Where do you get one I am very interested in using them as feeders

[BarelyBreathing]

Where did you purchase this kit, and can somebody provide a link to their care and breeding?

[beardeds4life]

Yes! I agree they are not that hard to take care of though...

[beardeds4life]

Found them on ebay :) I think this is where they got them

Stick Insect Starter Kit (Start Up Cage - Enclosure) | eBay (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stick-Insect-Starter-Kit-Start-Up-Cage-Enclosure-/280803063121?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41612ab551#ht_882wt_936)

[Gungirl]

hrmm.. would be a fun thing to let my son take care of. Can someone tell me what they eat??

[beardeds4life]

I do not know that is all I could dig up. If someone has an bay account could you message them and ask them for a care sheet and refer them to the forum?

[Gungirl]

I sent them an email.. I will inform you guys when I hear back.

On further searching it looks as though most stick bugs in this family eat Bramble leaves (rose, black berry, raspberry) and other leaves. Some like 1 kind more than others...

[beardeds4life]

Which I have none of... I wonder if they will eat blueberry... We could do an expiriement LOL but thank you for emailing them.

[beardeds4life]

I sent them an email.. I will inform you guys when I hear back.

On further searching it looks as though most stick bugs in this family eat Bramble leaves (rose, black berry, raspberry) and other leaves. Some like 1 kind more than others...

Yes but these are from an island where none of those exist (i think...)

[spots]

Your right kat about what they eat.
Bramble (blackberry) is generally considered an appropriate diet for many stick insects. Other options include raspberry, privet, hawthorn, oak, rose, and ivy.

Care of Indian Stick Insects (carausius morosus) (http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/insectsspiders/a/stickinsects_2.htm)

[ZARADOZIA]

I have the email contact of a guy in NY that sells them, which is where jarich
got them from. PM me if you would like the information. (Not sure if I can post that in Forums...Wayne? Input?)

[Gungirl]

So the seller on Ebay got back to me.. they said that you can feed them Oak leaves in the spring/summer organic romaine lettuce in the winter. Zaradozia can you tell me if this is something your contact would recommend feeding?

[ZARADOZIA]

So the seller on Ebay got back to me.. they said that you can feed them Oak leaves in the spring/summer organic romaine lettuce in the winter. Zaradozia can you tell me if this is something your contact would recommend feeding?


I sent out 2 emails, one to the gentleman that sells sticks and one to Veronica who owns Beautiful Dragon Rescue. As soon as I hear back I will let you know. No matter what is said, I will follow Veronica's advice and if she says no stick bugs, I will listen. Her knowledge is extensive and I will not argue her opinions.


Good Morning Miss Veronica!

I received my order, thank you for the first aid supplies, and you are correct, dragons are addicting. I have 5 now (lol). If you aren't too busy, I have some questions for you please.

Myself and a few other dragon lovers are looking into alternate bugs to feed our babies and right now the hot topic is stick insects. We have found a breeder in NY that has them and the insects breed fairly well.

The problem:
The stick insects eat Eucalyptus, Bramble (blackberry), privet, ivy, raspberry, hawthorn, oak, rose, sweet chestnut, rhododendron, apple, and rose leaves. I know many of those types of leaves are deadly to dragons. I am in the process of asking the breeder if the stick insects would also survive on other leaves as well, like Collards, Endive, Bok Choy, Mustards, etc.

Will you please share your thoughts, concerns, knowledge on this subject please? Maybe contact some of your reliable resources concerning the nutritional value of this endeavor?


Thank you bunches!!



Good Morning Tim!

I would like a copy of the care sheet for the stick insects if you don't mind please, specifically the kinds of food/plants they eat. I know they can survive on a variety, (Eucalyptus, Bramble *blackberry*, privet, ivy, raspberry, hawthorn, oak, rose, sweet chestnut, rhododendron, apple, and rose leaves.)

Many of those types of leaves are deadly to my reptiles, so can the stick insects survive on other leaves as well? Like Collards, Endive, Bok Choy, Mustards, etc?

[Gungirl]

Thanks Zaradozia We will figure this out one way or another soon enough.. lol

[beardeds4life]

Haha but I am pretty sure that they can survive on greens etc but if some of us do decide to get them we would have to wait like a month before we feed them to get everything out of their system.

[BarelyBreathing]

I want to keep them as pets, so frankly, I don't care what they eat.

[Gungirl]

I want to keep them as pets, so frankly, I don't care what they eat.

I as well want them as "pets" but I do care what they eat. If they are to much work to get food for then I don't want them. Some greens are always easy to get in the winter months

[BarelyBreathing]

I guess I should call myself lucky, as two of the listed items are always available in my area. I totally understand, though.

[beardeds4life]

None of them are in mine except roses (but I cant really sneak into my neighbors yards and steals parts of their roses LOL)

[BarelyBreathing]

None of them are in mine except roses (but I cant really sneak into my neighbors yards and steals parts of their roses LOL)

Ha ha. Oh, man! I can picture this.

[beardeds4life]

hehehe i could probably get away with it.....

[jarich]

Wow, sorry guys. I was away for two weeks and it literally took that long again for me to catch up on work. They eat a number of different greens. All the ones you mention as well as parsley, romaine, and any number of dark leafy greens. They seem to like herbs quite a bit. Make sure to give them a mist in the morning too. They are really very hearty actually. I found one in my kitchen the other day, and I have no idea either how he got out, or how he survived so long outside the cage! Felt bad for him but he seemed no worse for the wear.

[BarelyBreathing]

Wow, sorry guys. I was away for two weeks and it literally took that long again for me to catch up on work. They eat a number of different greens. All the ones you mention as well as parsley, romaine, and any number of dark leafy greens. They seem to like herbs quite a bit. Make sure to give them a mist in the morning too. They are really very hearty actually. I found one in my kitchen the other day, and I have no idea either how he got out, or how he survived so long outside the cage! Felt bad for him but he seemed no worse for the wear.

Thanks, Jarich!

[ZARADOZIA]

This is the care sheet Tim sent:


PSG 183 Care Sheet.doc (http://ne1.attach.mail.ymail.com/us.f1210.mail.yahoo.com/ya/securedownload?mid=1_125535_AJpXimIAAXcTTxCMogkU%2 FXJKY78&fid=Inbox&pid=2&clean=0&appid=YahooMailNeo&redirectURL=http%3A%2F%2Fus.mg5.mail.yahoo.com%2Fn eo%2Fphp%2Foutage.php%3Fb%3D_3654%26mid%3D1_125535 _AJpXimIAAXcTTxCMogkU%252FXJKY78%26fid%3DInbox%26y id%3Djd.pecor%26nAtt%3D1&cred=.0OgH5mb9HDoXpEpjY9KU2nvqE5ZwV6Q_bCK.XMGJZroE HPc7Syd3yjlTRuoJhACLX8dNm.nqeDwJwBXPEMpp6w.Gndf4kK ZZ_tyHiWuosOrgxad6cz4&ts=1326531501&partner=ymail&sig=YarU6nNeg7jLPv3aDtHRuQ--)

[Gungirl]

Zara that link takes me to my yahoo log in. It doesn't give me anything else.... ?

[beardeds4life]

I might get them as soon as we get the o.k. from Veronica.

[ZARADOZIA]

(No answer from Veronica yet)

Sorry, I didn't know it was login sensitive. Here is a copy paste:

Care Sheet

Andaman Stick Insect

Sceptrophasma hispidulum


Genus:
Sceptrophasma

Species:
hispidulum

Year:
Wood-Mason, 1873

Distribution:
Andaman islands

PSG#
183


Description: This specie must have both males and females for the ova to hatch. Female will stick their ova just about every where they can. The ova are 0.8 cm long and are of slightly arched form. Ova are rather fragile. It is to better use a brush or a cotton swab soaked with water to take off the eggs. The colors include: brown and bronze orange, with slight shining.


Size: Females get 7cm long, males get 6cm long


Diet: Oak, Beech, Bramble, Raspberry, Rose, Strawberry, Organic Lettuce.


Ova Care: Ova take 2- 3 months to hatch.


Nymph/Adult Care: Place in a ventilated enclosure. Preferably a taller enclosure than a wider one. Spray insects once a day and keep a constant supply of food plant available. Plastic plants can be used for decoration. Their cage should be misted once to twice a day. They take 4 month to grow into adults. Kept at 20-25°C.


Note: While you will most likely perform your own research online and each species has their own expectation, please heed my advice on ova. Like in the wild your ova may experience changes to light, heat, and humidity. That being said as they have adapted over millions of years they have learned to survive. While most will say ova will take 3 – 6 months at times they can take anywhere from 1 – 18 months to hatch. This in turn shows how well adapted these tiny creatures are to how they can and so often will survive through the perils of life. So, I never throw any of my eggs away until well over 2 years, or sometimes even longer.


Please feel free to contact us: Timssticks@gmail.com

(Ask to be added as the newsletter for all the most up to date sales and stick related news)


Care Sheet

Andaman Stick Insect

Sceptrophasma hispidulum


Genus:
Sceptrophasma

Species:
hispidulum

Year:
Wood-Mason, 1873

Distribution:
Andaman islands

PSG#
183


Description: This specie must have both males and females for the ova to hatch. Female will stick their ova just about every where they can. The ova are 0.8 cm long and are of slightly arched form. Ova are rather fragile. It is to better use a brush or a cotton swab soaked with water to take off the eggs. The colors include: brown and bronze orange, with slight shining.


Size: Females get 7cm long, males get 6cm long


Diet: Oak, Beech, Bramble, Raspberry, Rose, Strawberry, Organic Lettuce.


Ova Care: Ova take 2- 3 months to hatch.


Nymph/Adult Care: Place in a ventilated enclosure. Preferably a taller enclosure than a wider one. Spray insects once a day and keep a constant supply of food plant available. Plastic plants can be used for decoration. Their cage should be misted once to twice a day. They take 4 month to grow into adults. Kept at 20-25°C.


Note: While you will most likely perform your own research online and each species has their own expectation, please heed my advice on ova. Like in the wild your ova may experience changes to light, heat, and humidity. That being said as they have adapted over millions of years they have learned to survive. While most will say ova will take 3 – 6 months at times they can take anywhere from 1 – 18 months to hatch. This in turn shows how well adapted these tiny creatures are to how they can and so often will survive through the perils of life. So, I never throw any of my eggs away until well over 2 years, or sometimes even longer.


Please feel free to contact us: Timssticks@gmail.com

(Ask to be added as the newsletter for all the most up to date sales and stick related news)

[Terranaut]

They are illegal in canada btw, for any canadians that might want them.

Thats funny. Even the local reptile parties have stick bugs. Good to know thanks.

[ZARADOZIA]

I just got a reply back from Veronica, so far she doesn't have any information to offer, but is still waiting to hear back from a couple of her contacts.

Hi DeAnn,

Thank you so much for the very informative email. I would've emailed you sooner but I was checking my resources for info on your stick insects. Unfortunatly, I haven't found anything helpful. But I have a few more inquiries out there and if I turn up any info I will definitely let you know.

Take care and thanks for the roach and cricket resources!
Hugs & head bobs,
Veronica

[beardeds4life]

Ok thanks I especially liked the "hugs and head bobs" LOL

[Timssticks]

Hey All,

I seem to comming in on the end of the convo, but I'm Tim! Was doing a bit more research updating my care sheets and such and stumbled upon this thread! Love the Pic of the starter kit!

Anyway, I've signed up for an account on here and would love to answer any of your questions. If any of you would like please feel free to PM me your email's and I'll add you to my mounthly newsletter. I send tips, deals, and fun facts.

My Email is Timssticks@gmail.com

:bouncy:

[jarich]

Hey Tim! Glad to see you here.

Anyone who is interested, definitely hit Tim up. He does a great job and has lots of different species.

[BarelyBreathing]

I'm interested. I'd love more information on care.

[Timssticks]

Yeah just hit up my email and let me know what you'd like to chat about.

[BarelyBreathing]

I feel that if I ask for information on here, it makes it available for all to see.

[Timssticks]

I feel that if I ask for information on here, it makes it available for all to see.

Did you have any particular questions in mind?

Also, I have quite a few more species available. If anyone is interested in them or even a starter kit, email me at Timssticks@gmail.com

[BarelyBreathing]

Yes!
-Basic set up
-Temperatures
-Humidity levels
-Basic diet
-Life span
-Reproductive information

[Timssticks]

Of Course!All species differ in needs and vary from one to another however for the Andaman Stick Insects:

Basic Set Up - Assure that the enclosure is at least a foot in height, width and length are not that important so far as the sticks are not cluttered. Their is no limit to how many can live together, because they are not territorial in the least. Bedding is not a necessary and only serves for ascetics. Most common use of bedding that is quick and easy to use is paper towels.

Temp - Most species, including the Andaman's can live at room temp

Humidity levels - Assure that the enclosure is well ventilated with screens on most sides, but assist in maintaining a level of humidity by misting once or twice daily. Note depending on species, humidity may be crucial to molting and stronger measures should be taken to assure high humidity levels, such as PSG 101, the Guadeloupe Stick Insect.

Basic diet - Diet also varies on species. Most however, live on oak, bramble (leaves from anything in the berry family, i.e. Strawberry, raspberry, etc.) Other species live off of Fern, Privet (commonly used as hedging), red maple, and eucalyptus.

Life span - Many species live for a year or so. Andaman live on average for 10 to 14 months. Although, I have recently had luck in rearing a strain that have lived for almost two years. I have spent the past few years breeding only those that live the longest and weeding out an with birth defects. I have also varied their gene pool by introducing new bloodlines to prevent inbreeding.

Reproductive information - Many Species such as the Indian and the Bud Wing are strictly A-Sexual and in captivity at least have no males in the species. This is thought to be because of the inability to find mates in the wild and that at some point males were available, but when they became more scares they evolved too reproduce on their own. Andaman's do have both male and female species in their culture, but females can reproduce unfertilized. However, as is the case in other species all sticks produced by the unfertilized female will hatch as female.

I hope these brief answers help out a bit. Please let me know if their is anything else about stick insects that interest you.

[BarelyBreathing]

That's the information I was looking for. Thank you.

[jaleely]

That's pretty awesome. Thank you for putting it here! Got me interested.

[Timssticks]

That's pretty awesome. Thank you for putting it here! Got me interested.
Email me if you would like some!

[beardeds4life]

Ok. I want to know if they are ok for dragons first.

[Timssticks]

My Beardies love them, the only thing that you need to do is feed them Organic Romaine Lettuce rather then oak!

[BarelyBreathing]

What else can they eat besides oak? What are they able to thrive on?

[Timssticks]

Well if you plan on using them as feeders, use organic Romaine Lettuce. If not they thrive on Oak, Hawthorne, Japanese Knot Weed, and bramble (leaves from every plant in the berry family)

[BarelyBreathing]

Romaine lettuce isn't exactly a healthy gutload...

[Reptilegal]

They should mainly be fed on rose leaves or bramble if u have acces to those in the winter time aswell then thats even better, just make sure the plants dont contain ANY fertilisers etc. Most species of stick and leaf insect can reproduce via 'parthenogenesis' thry lay fertile eggs WITHOUT the need of a male, but all the offspring will be female as the babies are clones if their mothers. If a male has succesfully mated with the female you will get firls and boys and one advantage of having eggs that have been fertilised by a male is the eggs hatch in half the time than the parthenogenesis ones, so i have macleays spectre stick insects (which feed on eucalyptus leaves) and the eggs 'if fertilised by a male' take around 5 months to hatch, whereas if there eere no male present, the eggs can take upto a year or more to hatch. My female has been mated numerous times and im expecting egfs from her anytime soon.

[Reptilegal]

Romaine lettuce isn't exactly a healthy gutload...

Correct. If there is ABSOLUTELY none of the other food around,it would keep them ok for a little bit but rose leaves,bramble,oak,eucalyptus (depending on the species) is the BEST!

[Reptilegal]

Well if you plan on using them as feeders, use organic Romaine Lettuce. If not they thrive on Oak, Hawthorne, Japanese Knot Weed, and bramble (leaves from every plant in the berry family)

I thought at first 'dont feed them romaine lettuce!,its not the most nutricious for ur stick insect' but then i realised ur feeding them to ur dragons and it makes sense cos the stuff the insects thrive on may not be goid for ur dragons. I get it now! ;)