Chris's Pet's

If you would like a caresheet of any of the species i am selling. I will be happy to e-mail one through to your e-mail address.

I do provide a caresheet for every species i sell on my site, so even if the species isn't yet on this page i will make one out for you.

Please enquire about this service.

A Little word about Ova (Eggs)

I am often asked questions on Phasmid eggs or Ova as known in the insect trade, the one question that gets asked the most is:  "How long do's it take these eggs to hatch? The simple answer to this question is well about 3-6 months. The truth is that many eggs vary not just because of the different species, but also because although we can give an idear on how to look after the eggs, they will most certenley be kept in sightly different conditions, and this in turn will make the hatching times become different as well.

The insect world is a most amazing place, they have managed to evolve in such a way as to fool the world around them in so many different ways, and this is the same for the ova having looking very much just like seeds or frass (Insect droppings) as they bury, flick or stick them onto leaves. They come in so many different colours, sizes and shapes.  I have been keeping insects now for quite a few years on and off, and even now they never fail to supprise me in one way or another, you look in the container one minute and there's nothing, turn your head again and there will be half a dozon tiny miricales running around.

Anyway getting back to the point ova can take any where from 1-18 monthes to hatch depending either on species or just on conditions or a mixter of both. 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 untill well over 2 years, or sometimes even longer.

              This is a very easy stick insect to look after and so a great insect for the beginner. They DO NOT need any extra heating and will live happily at room temperature. However I do find very often with insects that come from warmer climates, that it do’s them no harm in providing through the very cold winter times, a little  background warmth provided by a small heat mat.

Feeding

They eat Bramble, Oak and you can try Eucalyptus leaves when young. They like a light spray of water daily especially when nymphs.

Hatching eggs (ova)

To hatch eggs just place on damp tissue, in a small container covered with a piece of net (a piece of an old net curtain will do) secured with an elastic band. Just keep tissue damp. They should be kept at 23-24°C. Ova takes 6-7 month to hatch. Nymphs take 3-4 month to mature.

Females: get 6 1/2- 6 3/4 inch (16.5- 17cm) long.

Males: get 4 3/8- 4 1/2 inch (11- 11.5cm) long.

Nymphs can be kept in small containers. Make sure holes in the container are not too big for nymphs to escape out of. The nymphs are very tiny. Make sure always that the insects have enough room to shed their skins properly. Keep in large containers as they reach and when they are adults. The female can lay up to 200 – 300 eggs throughout her adult life. These are a very beautiful and gentle insect.

What they eat

They will eat eucalyptus when young, and then try them on a mixer of eucalyptus, bramble and rose. They do like a lot of water to drink, so need spraying well once a day.

Housing

They need to be kept in tall cages, but do not need any extra heating or humidity.

Reproduction 

The male and female do mate, and when the  female lays her eggs she will just drop them on the substrate.

Summery

This is a lovely stick insect and if given a nice big area to live in will make a most fasinating species to have.

This is one of the easiest stick insects to look after, a proper beginners insect, they can easily live in a home room temperature, and providing they have good ventilation,and a light spraying of water daily they will live happy and contented. They are parthenogenetic, which means the females can reproduce without a male, (the males are very rare, but are seen occasionally in captivity)

Housing:

Housing for this insect is easy, they can live in plastic tanks, glass tanks, big old sweet jars, in fact anything that has a secure lid with plenty of holes (for ventilation) but height is very important, please have twice their body length so they can have room to shed their skins.

Food:

They will eat Privet, Bramble, Rose leaves, Ivy. You can try them on most things, but Privet and Bramble seem to be more common.

Ova care

Keep ova on slightly damp tissue. Can take from around a month to hatch.

 A few words of warning, these stick insects do produce very easy, so if you are not using the eggs or nymphs for live feed, my advise is to control your eggs by cleaning your tank out twice a week, and throwing the eggs away. Other than that these are lovely stick insects to keep.

All of the Phyllium spieces need more of a expert handling, and therefore are not for first time insect lovers, as these do need extra warmth around (20-25c) and humidity. They can however be kept happy in a comfortable room temperature throughout the summer, but in the winter months a heat mat should be placed for back ground warmth. They also need quite a lot of humidity, to help them shed successfully. I also find that when raising small nymphs these should be cleaned out everyday to check for too much condensation.

FOOD

Their diet is easy as they live on Bramble.

Caring for Phyllium ova (eggs)

These should be placed in a plastic container in a warm place, around (20-25c) on some damp tissue or peat, try not to let them dry out, mist them lightly with water every day or every other day.

Housing

I find that my Phylliums thrive better in plastic containers with a few air holes, this prevents them drying out too much especially while their still shedding. I start them off in quite a small plastic container so that their near to food, i then tare their bramble leaves to encourage eating, i put peat or tissue on the bottom to help humidity, and i check them everyday to see that the condensation isn't too much on the sides for them to drown in, i also lightly mist them with water everyday. As they get older i change to bigger containers. You could also use glass tanks.

Summery

It's a fine line to get the living quarters just right for these insects, and i must admit it has taken me quite a lot of trials and errors to get it nearly 100% right, but i must be doing something right now. Having said all this they are one of the most beautiful and most rewarding insects anyone could  own, so it's really well worth it in the end.