Wanted: Sticks insects!

[heidinut]

My children are desperate for these. If anyone has any eggs or stick insects they would like to offload that would be great.

Thank you!

[DulwichFox]

Hi heidinut...

I'm not sure stick stick insects are suitable as pets for children.. Eggs are not the best option..

For your information..

Life Cycle

Female stick insects lay between 1 and 1,000 eggs at a time, which hatch after remaining dormant for 1 to 3 seasons, depending upon the type. After they?ve hatched, stick insect babies climb a tree and hang upside down while they grow and molt, which they?ll do at least 5 times before they grow up.

Feed him a nutritious diet: Stick insects are vegetarians and prefer a diet of brambles, such as blackberry or raspberry plants. Make sure he always has plenty of fresh food.

Keep him toasty: Originally from tropical or semitropical environments, most stick insects like warm temperatures from between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you can?t keep his room warm, make sure to keep a heating light bulb near his house. They like it dark at night, so use a red bulb when it?s dark out.

Keep him moist: Most stick insects like high humidity; do a little research to find out what your pet likes best. It?s a good idea to mist his cage and plants with water once a day, and also make sure he has a bowl of drinking water.

Handle with care: Stick insects enjoy being handled, provided you are gentle. More fragile than most pets, some will even bite or pinch if you handle them too roughly.

Have a read here.. http://www.petful.com/other-pets/do-stick-insects-make-good-pets/

DulwichFox

[joom]

You could also look here:

http://www.insectlore.co.uk/mini-beasts/live-kits/living-twig-stick-insect-kit.html

I've bought the butterfly kit before and the children loved it

[Angelina]

oh... do think twice...one female stick insect will soon turn into LOTS and LOTS and then more..... they don't need males.

[heidinut]

Thanks for the replies. I had stick insects when my children were smaller and I ended up cleaning them out, but I'm hoping now they are older other can manage! I did have to ensure I cleaned out all the eggs regularly to prevent them from hatching, as you say Angelina, they multiply rapidly!

I was hoping I could find someone on the forum who has too many and would like to hand a few hatchlings over to me. The last lot we got from a neighbour was for exactly this reason!

[leenorris78]

Freeze the excess eggs. This kills them.