Housing
When housing your stick insects the enclosure should be a suitable size and able to maintain the appropriate environmental conditions for the species. The enclosure needs to be tall enough to allow room for the stick insect to moult. Our guide is at least 5 times width and 5 times the height of the nymphs. Ensure there is plenty of foliage near the top for the nymphs to hang from to moult.
Humidity & Ventilation
Ensure there are adequate vents in the enclosure so that appropriate temperature and humidity levels are maintained. A fine mist of water will add humidity, but don’t soak the environment or mist your stick insects directly. Invest in a good quality adjustable mister similar to the ones florists use as the spray can be controlled more precisely than cheaper misters. A good quality hygrometer and thermometer will help you to monitor the humidity and temperature in the enclosure.
Plants & Cleaning
Keep the enclosure clean and free from bacteria and mould as this can be harmful or even fatal to your stick insect. Ensure the foliage stays fresh by topping up the water pot each day so the leaves maintain the nutritional value for your insects for as long as possible. Using tissue on the bottom of the enclosure helps to hold in humidity and is also easy to replace to keep the environment clean. This is also an effective base for spotting any eggs, which could normally be hard to find in substrate.
Heat & Light
Most stick insects do not need any special lighting but do need to be kept warm enough. We keep our room at 18-26 degrees (night/day) with humidity at 50-70% for most of our stick insects. However, research the species you would like to keep and ensure any special light, heat or ventilation requirements are maintained.