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Thorny Stick Insect — Fact Sheet

Aretaon asperrimus · Thorny Stick Insect

📋 At a glance

Adult size5-8 cm
Lifespan1-2 years
Activitynocturnal
Difficultybeginner
LegalCITES: not listed; EU: not listed; local biosecurity rules still apply
Humidity65-85%; molt support 75-90%
Egg incubation90-180 days

🏠 Enclosure

  • 30 x 30 x 45 cm. Use this as a minimum for a small group, with secure fine mesh, fresh food stems in covered water, and open hanging space for molts.

🌡️ Temperature

  • ambient air: 22-27°C
  • night: 20-23°C

🪳 Feeding

  • bramble, raspberry, oak, ivy, pyracantha. Keep safe host leaves available at all times, replace wilted stems promptly, and avoid pesticide-treated or roadside cuttings.

🩺 Health — warning signs

  • Watch for failed molts, mold, mites, dehydration, pesticide exposure, escapes, food refusal, injuries, and unexplained nymph losses.