Annam Walking Stick (Medauroidea extradentata)

Annam Walking Stick Medauroidea extradentata
Name	Annam Walking Stick
Name Lat.	Medauroidea extradentata
Family	Walking Sticks
Family lat.	Phasmatidae
Order	Phasmids
Order lat.	Phasmatodea
Origin	Southeast Asia
Habitat	Rainforest
Diet	Fresh rose-family leaves
Humidity	60-80 %
Behavior	Nocturnal, peaceful
Keeping	Individual, pair, group
Care Level	Easy
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Breeding	Simple
Life Span	6-12 months
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	7-11 cm
Temperature Day	20-27 °C
Temperature Night	18-20 °C
Housing Size	30 x 30 x 60 cm
US Units
Size	2.8"-4.3"
Temperature Day	68-81 °F
Temperature Night	64-68 °F
Housing Size	10" x 10" x 25"

Distribution and habitat

The nocturnal stick insects are native to southern Vietnam, especially in the Annam region. There, the flightless animals live mainly on bushes and shrubs of the tropical rainforests.

Maintenance

A terrarium of 30 x 30 x 60 cm (L x W x H) is recommended for a pair or a small group. A terrarium with a cover made of gauze or fine metal mesh is best. The terrarium should be placed in a quiet place without sunlight

They need climbing opportunities, such as cork back walls, twigs and branches, which also serve as food plants. In order to keep them fresh for a longer time, they should be served in narrow-necked, well-sealed (danger of drowning), stable containers (e.g. vase). Suitable substrate is terrarium humus or a soil-sand mixture covered with moss, which should always be kept slightly moist. Every 1-2 days, preferably in the evening, the insectarium should be finely sprayed with water inside (humidity), but a rain or mist system is better. Too high humidity and waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. Good ventilation is especially important.

Daytime temp.: 20-27 °C

Temp. night: 18-20 °C

Humidity: 60-80

Although the animals are nocturnal, a light source that also produces the necessary heat is ideal. The lighting duration should be 8-12 hours, depending on the season

Diet

The food supply consists of fresh leaves of blackberry, honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida), laburnum, elderberry and ivy (Hedera helix), as well as leaves of ferns. Leaves of other roses and rose plants, such as red and hawthorn, raspberry, currant, wild rose, firethorn, etc., as well as the leaves of beech, oak, linden, hazel, eucalyptus or sweet chestnut are also accepted differently by individuals. Blackberries are ideal as food in winter, as they remain green. Spraying the forage plants allows the animals to satisfy their drinking needs. Additionally, a wick waterer is recommended. Eaten branches, dried and rotten leaves must be removed regularly

A varied diet promotes the well-being of the animals.

Reproduction and breeding

Both sexes have a brownish, beige to greenish coloration, the females are significantly larger than the slimmer males. The long extended legs of the females have lobe-shaped appendages

They can reproduce sexually but also asexually (parthenogenesis).

The female lays 1-5 eggs per day, about 2 mm in size, which are gray and have black spots. The incubation period is about 3-5 months at room temperature, and less than 2 months at temperatures of 25-27 °C. The newly hatched young are about 15 mm long. After the last molt (imaginal molt), the animals can live up to a year.

Important

The shape and coloring of the animals resemble small, thin branches (branch mimesis). With their swaying gait, they can mimic the movement of branches in the wind.

To molt, they hang upside down in the branches or on the lattice cover and slide out of their old shell. Therefore, they need at least a whole body length including legs of free space below them.

Before purchasing, a terrarium should be prepared that meets the species specific needs. Necessary are good ventilation without drafts and devices for measuring temperature and humidity. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and should be installed in such a way that the animals cannot injure themselves

The terrarium should be locked in such a way that neither unauthorized persons can open it nor the animals can escape. Special attention must be paid to thorough hygiene and impurities must be removed regularly

Further literature can be found in your pet store

References

Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak

Source: SEILER, BRADLER, KOCH (2000): Ratgeber Phasmiden, Verlag Bede; ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Harri Deutsch Verlag