{"id":4312,"date":"2022-05-04T11:38:38","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T11:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/?p=4312"},"modified":"2023-04-06T11:42:19","modified_gmt":"2023-04-06T11:42:19","slug":"indian-stick-insects-practical-care-guide-best-beginners-pet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/indian-stick-insects-practical-care-guide-best-beginners-pet\/","title":{"rendered":"Indian Stick Insects Practical Care Guide [Best Beginners Pet]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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If you say stick insects or walking stick, you immediately think of a cylindrical insect crawling on long legs. The most popular one is the Indian stick insect. This iconic insect is one of the most popular exotic pets to keep. This beginner-friendly insect is also very suitable for kids to keep as their first pet. They are also perfect as a school buddy in the classroom. But even these easy-to-care pet deserves the best care and has to be properly looked after. In this practical care guide, we discuss in detail the care they need and how you best can keep Indian stick insects as pets, but in a nutshell: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These easy to keep Indian stick insects need an enclosure of at least 20x20x30cm, a temperature around 20\u00b0C and a mildly humid environment to stay healthy. You can feed Indian stick insects with a combination of leaves from privet, bramble or ivy. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, even when they are labelled as one of the easiest stick insects you can keep, they still need proper care. To ensure their welfare we discuss all their needs in this practical care guide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About the Indian stick insect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>\"Common<\/span>Indian stick insect,
Laboratory stick insect
Common stick insect<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\"Scientific<\/span>Carausius morosus<\/em> (PSG1)<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\"Lifespan\"\/<\/span>Lifespan up to 1 year<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\"Length<\/span>Body size 8-10 cm (3″-4″) <\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>\"Natural<\/span>Originates from India <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>
\"\"<\/picture><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Appearance and camouflage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Indian stick insects have a cylindrical body shape existing out of three parts: Head, thorax and abdomen. They have normally an olive green colour, although there are specimens that are more brown or yellow-green. They have 6 long legs that have the same colour as their body. Adults are around 8 to 10cm (3″-4″) long.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These colours and body shape make them very well camouflaged between the foliage. They can hardly be distinguished between the twigs and leaves they are sitting on. When resting you generally see that they use their front legs to extend the shape of their body so they even look more like a twig.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behaviour, temperament and handling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

These stick insects are very docile. They are nocturnal and are most active during nighttime. During daylight, they sit quietly on a branch. When they feel danger approaching they sometimes will rock from left to right mimicking a twig waving in the wind. They are perfect when you want to start keeping stick insects and are also a perfect pet for kids<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like any other stick insect, they are very delicate and you should handle them with great care. Don’t grab them on their body, but let them walk onto your hand instead. You can use a small artist’s paintbrush to guide them towards your hand. When you keep them on your hand, don’t raise them too high above the ground, because they can (let them) fall off your hand and damage themselves. Kids can handle them as well, but I recommend guidance from an adult at all times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Related read:<\/strong><\/strong> 15 Surprisingly Interesting Facts About Stick Insects<\/a><\/div>