The numbers
Enclosure
40 × 30 × 30 cm
Diet
Bramble (staple), oak, rose, raspberry, guava · Fresh leaves always available; replace ~weekly
Temperature
20–28°C
Humidity
75–85%
Identity
Order / Family
Phasmatodea
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; not CITES-listed
Difficulty
Intermediate
Commonality
Fairly common
Adult size
F ~11–13 cm heavy & spiny; M ~9–10 cm
Lifespan
F ~1–2 yr adult; long-lived (can exceed 2 yr total)
Growth rate
Slow
Activity & niche
Nocturnal · Ground-dwelling browser
Temperament
Slow; defensive spiny legs & stridulation
Venom / defense
No venom; snaps spiny hind legs; stridulates/hisses with wings
Price (THB)
฿400–900
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
20–28°C
Humidity
75–85%
Min. enclosure
40×30×30 cm; deep moist floor
Substrate
Deep moist coco/soil for large buried eggs
Hides / decor / water
Bark hides; water dish; mist to keep humid
Diet
Staple food
Bramble (staple), oak, rose, raspberry, guava
Feeding frequency
Fresh leaves always available; replace ~weekly
Supplements
None; fresh host leaves only
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Slow; can spiny-leg pinch — grip behind legs, support body
Communal
Yes — gregarious with hides
Defense / stress signs
Rears, snaps spiny legs; stridulates; plays dead
Reproduction
Reproduction
Sexual; large seed-like eggs buried; hatch ~4–8 mo
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMismoult if floor dry, dehydration, prolapse in F
Red flags / quarantine
SignsSluggish, shrivel, mould, failed egg-laying
Good to know
- Long-lived giants; some indigenous peoples harvest their protein-rich eggs
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