Giant Heusii Stick Insect Nymph Pair

SCIENTIFIC:	Phryganistria heussi
DIFFICULTY (1-5):	2
LIFESPAN (Y):	18 months +
HABITAT:	Rainforest
ORIGIN:	Captive Bred
LOCALITY:	Vietnam
ADULT SIZE (cm):	Up to 50cm
FOOD:	Bramble/Hazel leaves
AMBIENT TEMP (F):	68-80
HUMDITY (%)	60-70

This humongous stick insect is closely related to the second largest insect in the world (Phryganistria heussi yentuensis). They have a classic stick insect appearance and are thin insects in colours of green and brown. Females are easily spotted as they are larger and thicker, they can reach up to twice the size of a male stick insect.

Stick insects enjoy simple lives and providing they have good humidity and regular food and water, they are pretty happy.

We recommend a minimum of an 18” high by 12” wide enclosure with a fully vented or mesh front. A reptibreeze is also a good example of a stick insect enclosure. It is vital to maintain high humidity within the enclosure whilst allowing as much ventilation as possible.

Coco fibre or a bark substrate which is completely natural can be used, stick insects spend most to all or their time in the leaves and branches of the food they eat so they rarely come into contact with the floor. If they do, using one of the bark or fibre forest substrates will present them with an environment similar to that in the wild.

Substrate should be spot cleaned daily– poo and eggs will be found in the substrate, poo is small and green and the eggs are harder and brown/beige colours. Eggs can be left in the enclosure or removed into a ventilated plastic tub with some moist kitchen towel, they can take up to 12 months to hatch. Eggs can also be discarded if you do not want to keep them. Substrate should be changed fully every 4 weeks or sooner if you find that there is a lot of water in the bottom of the tank from spraying.

Temperatures should be 70-80 Fahrenheit which is normal household temps. If you do not have this as a normal temp, you can provide this with a small heat mat. Please speak to us about adding a heat mat to your setup.

For questions about Stick Insects, or any of our other products, please contact us.