Starting out with STICK INSECTS
Ranking as experts in animal camouflage, stick insects are pets which will not disturb anyone, but that doesn’t mean they’re boring, as David Alderton explains.
Even the head of these stick insects is well-camouflaged.
Saving time and trouble
Rather than having to cut fresh brambles every day, which can become hard to find during the winter months in any case, the simplest solution is to stand stems in a container of water, stuffing the neck here with tinfoil to stop any young stick insects falling in and drowning. The bramble can then be changed when it starts to shrivel up or once its leaves have been chewed away by the stick insects.
If you’re looking for a pet for children, which can be maintained easily and cheaply, then consider stick insects, particularly the Indian or laboratory stick insect (Carausius morosus). This is the most commonlykept species and is very easy to cater for, although it is important to bear in mind that these stick insects can reach a length of 15cm (6in) when adult, and so they need reasonably spacious surroundings as they grow larger.
Young hatchlings, however, can be kept in smaller sizes of plastic containers with ventilated hoods, provided that they cannot slip out through gaps in the roof of the vivarium, as they are very agile at this stage. Even a converted sweet jar can be used for this purpose. Wrapping a layer of fine black cloth over the top will serve to keep the stick insects adequately confined within.