The numbers
Enclosure
20 × 20 × 25 cm
Diet
Bramble (staple), oak, raspberry (Rubus spp.) · Fresh leaves always available; replace ~weekly
Temperature
22–27°C
Humidity
75–85% (needs near-enclosed cage)
Identity
Order / Family
Phasmatodea
Origin
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Intermediate
Commonality
Fairly common
Adult size
F ~5–6 cm dark spiny; M ~4 cm (orange-spotted)
Lifespan
F ~8–12 mo adult; total ~12–15 mo
Growth rate
Slow
Activity & niche
Nocturnal · Ground-dwelling browser
Temperament
Calm, secretive; hides by day
Venom / defense
Harmless; raises spiny legs defensively; plays dead
Price (THB)
฿250–550
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
22–27°C
Humidity
75–85% (needs near-enclosed cage)
Min. enclosure
20×20×25 cm; enclosed & humid; moist floor
Substrate
Moist coco/soil for buried eggs; keep damp
Hides / decor / water
Bark/leaf-litter hides; mist to keep floor damp
Diet
Staple food
Bramble (staple), oak, raspberry (Rubus spp.)
Feeding frequency
Fresh leaves always available; replace ~weekly
Supplements
None; fresh host leaves only
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Docile; support body; secretive
Communal
Yes — gregarious with hides
Defense / stress signs
Raises spined legs (touch-me-not pose); plays dead
Reproduction
Reproduction
Sexual; eggs buried; hatch ~4–6 mo
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMismoult/desiccation if not humid enough
Red flags / quarantine
SignsSluggish, shrivel, mould, failure to moult
Good to know
- Its Latin name means do-not-touch-me for its raised spiny-leg display
Others in this group
Indian / Laboratory Stick InsectCarausius morosusGiant Prickly / Spiny Leaf InsectExtatosoma tiaratumVietnamese / Annam Stick InsectMedauroidea extradentataMalayan Jungle NymphHeteropteryx dilatataPink-Winged Stick InsectSipyloidea sipylusSabah Thorny Stick InsectAretaon asperrimusThorny Devil Stick InsectEurycantha calcarataBlack Beauty Stick InsectPeruphasma schultei