Indian Walking Sticks

[chameleon97]

Can they be used as a staple? (along with crix and superworms)
Are they any better than other foods?
If anyone has pics of their, or someone else's Stick setup, can you please share?
I might be getting sticks soon... someone in town breeds them (and has for over 10 years)

-Steve

 

[eisentrauti]

Yes, very good and healthy feeders !
You can keep them in full screen enclosures

 

[Brad Ramsey]

And soon you will have thousands!
They don't really breed. Males are very rare (if they exist in culture at all) the females are parthogenetic and lay 3 or so eggs a day as adults.
If your chameleons like them you will be set with feeders.
Feed them bramble (raspberry stems with leaves) and oak.

-Brad

 

[Bay687]

how can i get my hands on some of these indian walking sticks?

 

[Brad Ramsey]

They are illegal in the States.

-Brad

 

[Bay687]

really? like i can't ship them in??? and why are they illegal?? .. oh well i guess.. that's that

 

[Brad Ramsey]

Didn't say you couldn't get them, however, I know of at least three people who have had their insects confiscated by the USDA because they posted about them on a forum and an agent caught it.
Forums like this one are policed by fish and game and the department of agriculture and keeping animals that are deemed invasive pests can be prosecuted with a fine as well.
People in the states do have these animals, but they don't talk about it.
I had indians for awhile but my chameleons were not interested in eating them and they were going to take over my house
They were triple ziplock bagged and frozen for two months and then, they and the substrate were incinerated.
If a person does decide to keep animals like this, some very strict responsibility needs to come into play.

-Brad

 

[chameleon97]

I had indians for awhile

LOL!

Do they Need bramble or oak?
The person i know has bred them for 10+ years, and has used lettuce, a 5 gallon tank, and some sticks, with sand on the bottom. Is there anything wrong with this? I assume no, because over 10 years (or 11, or 12... or something) of successful breeding...

-Steve

 

[sandrachameleon]

The sand is unnecessary.
they prefer to eat blackberry bramble and oak leaves over lettuce, and lettuce isnt very nutritious anyhow.

you may find these links helpful
http://www.amentsoc.org/insects/caresheets/stick-insects.html
https://www.chameleonforums.com/indian-walking-sticks-20724/#post178062

 

[chameleon97]

Is the "bramble" the leaves?
Where can i get this?

EDIT:

sometimes indian stick insects will eat romaine lettuce

or raspberry bush

ivy,

These are acceptible, according to some care sheets, and are available year round (except raspberry... only in summer) for me

 

[Lizardlover]

blackberry is also known as bramble, from what I understand and have seen it grows in abundance up north.

 

[Zen Reptiles]

Blackberry leaves is probably what the breeder you know uses.

You can also use Guava leaves, but you'd go through a lot of plants lol.
If you can find a nursery you can get a bunch from, you can grown your own
and you'll be set.

You have to mist them, otherwise the eggs will dry up and you won't have any
hatchlings. Not sopping wet, but constantly moist is good. You will need a
substrate like peat moss for this.

Even after your adults die, keep spraying the cage, because before long you will
have a huge bloom in hatchlings.

 

[chameleon97]

Blackberry leaves is probably what the breeder you know uses.

Nope. Lettuce (i was suprised to hear this)

You will need a substrate like peat moss for this.

Will sphagnum moss work? My buddy has some he might give me... He doesn't need it.

 

[Bay687]

haha sounds interesting, well oh well im in the us.. i wish it was perfectly fine here

 

[sandrachameleon]

Yes, bramble typically means the leaves of something like Blackberry (which is available year round in my part of BC). yes, they will eat lettuce, but there's not much nutrient in that to benefit your chameleon. If the point is to use these as a feeder source, you will want to "gutload" with what best benefits the chameleon (ivy may be a bad choice). You do not need a substrate. You're going to have thousands of eggs, and so it wont matter if less than 100% hatch. Misting eggs isnt really necessary either, so long as the humidity of the room is good. Misting the sticks is good though.

 

[chameleon97]

yes, they will eat lettuce, but there's not much nutrient in that to benefit your chameleon

Well, in winter (Im up noth... 'tis COLD up here!) so Lettuce will be the main food source

(which is available year round in my part of BC).

Again, its sometimes -35 in winter, So our Raspberry bush does freeze, and drop all leaves.

Can i Use... beet greens? or... celery leaves? Any common grocery store items?

 

[sandrachameleon]

Blackberry retains leaves when frozen. They just go dormant. Still easy to pick, bring inside and give to the stick insects. Not saying you have to, just saying you can. The sticks prefer bramble, but if the happiness of the stick insects isnt important, certainly lettuce and other leafy greens will do. Switch up the green leafy items you offer the sticks as this is likely good for the chameleon. No harm giving beet greens, kale, and other common grocery store greens a try (get organic, sticks are sensitive to pesticide residue). But I dont think sticks like celery.