Stick insects are becoming a popular choice as pets because they are so easy to care for, making them ideal for people who want minimal commitment.
The idea of keeping stick insects as pets is pretty old, in fact dating back to the Han dynasty (202 BC to 220 AD).
Too busy to keep a cat, dog, or fish? Learn how to keep stick insects as pets in this article, which explores stick insect housing, stick insect diet, stick insect substrate, and other requirements.
Let’s get started.
What Are Stick Insects
Their name says it all – they’re insects that you can easily mistake for a twig or leaf; it is an effective camouflage to protect themselves from predation.
The scientific name for these insects is Phasmatodea, which is an order consisting of more than 3000 species of different shapes, colors, and sizes.
The size difference within the order is vast, ranging from 1 inch to a whopping 25 inches. In fact, the world’s longest insect is – unsurprisingly – a stick insect.
On average, your stick insect pet will be about 4.5 inches, with the female being larger than the male.
Species commonly kept as pets include the strong stick insect, Indian stick insect, Goliath stick insect, spiny leaf insect, Children’s stick insect, and Annam walking stick.
Tank For Stick Insects
Height is an important consideration when it comes to a terrarium for stick insects because they molt their skin hanging upside down in the tank and may become deformed or even die due to lack of space.
Most stick insects also live in trees and like to climb up – another reason why you should opt for vertical space.
It should be 3 times the adult length of the stick insect species. Aim for at least 18 inches in height. In terms of size, 10-15 gallons is fine.
The stick insect tank setup must also be well-ventilated to avoid the growth of mold and fungus that can kill them.
A mesh tank offers great ventilation, but it can dry out the terrarium quickly – if you have a species that requires high humidity, it may be a good idea to get a glass tank as it traps water effectively. We recommend the following Glass Enclosure and Acrylic Enclosure
Ideal Conditions for a Stick Insect Terrarium
There are no special requirements when it comes to keeping a stick insect as a pet. As we said, they are very easy to care for.
Since most species are tropical, they would do well in the temperature range of 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. If your room temperature cannot be maintained at this level, you could geta heat lamp or heating pad.
Some species also require high humidity, as much as 75%. You can maintain this by misting the tank regularly.
Also, most species get their water by drinking water droplets that form on surfaces, so you do not need to place a drinking bowl for them, which will create a risk of them drowning.
Stick insects require a day/night cycle of lighting, much like many other pets. Since they are active at night, you can use a low-intensity red bulb that disturbs them less during the dark. Make sure your stick insect cannot touch the light source and burn themselves (some can even fly!).
What Do Stick Insects Eat
This is an interesting question. Stick insects are basically herbivores – they are content munching on plant materials.
The specific stick insect diet depends on the species in question. For example, the popular Indian stick insect likes to eat oak, rose, and hawthorn leaves.
Generally, for other species, you can feed privet, ivy, organic lettuce, and brambles such as blackberry or raspberry.
Since stick insects only eat fresh foliage, you have to keep the feed in water to prevent them from drying out (make sure you block access to the water bowl so that they can’t drown).
Alternatively, you can try to grow the plant they eat inside the terrarium; that way they have constant access to fresh food. The plants can also double down as décor, but one that will be nibbled down by your pet, unfortunately.
Also, make sure the feed doesn’t have insecticide or any sort of pesticide in it, which will be a death sentence to your pet.
Ideal Substrate for Stick Insects
Good news is that stick insect droppings are dry (and very small to even begin with), so you don’t have to think too hard as for the substrate.
You could just place a kitchen towel or a newspaper for the sake of convenience and be done with it.
If you want something more aesthetic, your options are peat moss, vermiculite, coco fiber, potting soil, and desert sand.
If you want high humidity you can choose a substrate that retains humidity such as moss.
Stick Insect Behavior
Their behavior is as much interesting as their exotic appearance. They do this rocking movement to mimic a twig or leaf swaying in the wind – all part of their camouflage.
And, as we said before, they like climbing, so make sure there are things like twigs, branches, plants, and vines in the stick insect terrarium.
They are pretty docile; you can even handle them but be extremely gentle – stick insects have a highly fragile frame.
Stick insects molt multiple times while growing; this is a very vulnerable period for them – make sure you don’t disturb them during this time and provide them with ample space to hang upside down for molting.
Also, these critters are nocturnal, so expect them to be active only at night.
Stick Insect Breeding
If you’re keeping stick insect pets, you should know this: some of the species have the ability to reproduce asexually by producing female offspring.
Moreover, the eggs they produce can lay dormant for 1-3 seasons.
This is an issue because it can lead to overpopulation in your tanks; you may be forced to remove newborns as they emerge.
Male stick insects are pretty rare – you’ll find 1 in 1000 individuals. They also have the ability to fly. Due to their rarity and the fact they can’t reproduce by themselves, males are sought after by hobbyists.
Conclusion
By now, I hope you have a good idea on how to keep stick insects as pets. As you can see, it’s not that difficult.
We’ve given you the basics such as what does the stick insect eat, the ideal stick insect substrate, the ideal tank size and dimensions, and other requirements.
Being a pet that only lives for 1 or 2 years, stick insects are not a big commitment, although it will be heartbreaking to say goodbye to your stick insect pet when the time comes.
Do a little more research on the specific species you wish to keep and you can have your first ever stick insect terrarium.
Thanks for reading.
