Great Thin Stick Insect (Ramulus nematodes 'Blue')

Great Thin Stick Insect Ramulus nematodes 'Blue'
Name	Great Thin Stick Insect
Name Lat.	Ramulus nematodes 'Blue'
Family	Walking Sticks
Family lat.	Phasmatidae
Order	Phasmids
Order lat.	Phasmatodea
Origin	Southeast Asia
Habitat	Edge of forests
Diet	Fresh rose-family leaves
Humidity	60-80 %
Behavior	Peaceful, nocturnal
Keeping	Individual, pair, group
Care Level	Easy
Housing	Semi-humid terrarium
Breeding	Simple
Life Span	5-20 months
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	8-13 cm
Temperature Day	22-28 °C
Temperature Night	20-22 °C
Housing Size	40 x 40 x 60 cm
US Units
Size	3"-5"
Temperature Day	72-82 °F
Temperature Night	68-72 °F
Housing Size	15" x 15" x 25"

Distribution and habitat

The crepuscular to nocturnal blue Thai stick insects are native to Thailand and Malaysia. There, the thin, wingless animals live in the scrubland at forest edges and in secondary vegetation.

Maintenance

A terrarium of 40 x 40 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. Daily, preferably in the evening, the insectarium should be finely sprayed with water inside (humidity), but a rain or fog system is better. Waterlogging should be avoided at all costs. Good ventilation is especially important.

Daytime temp: 22-28 °C

Temp. night: 20-22 °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, etc., as well as the leaves of beech, oak, linden, hazel, eucalyptus or sweet chestnut  and lettuce are also accepted in different ways individually. 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

The brown to green colored females are larger and somewhat stronger than the slimmer males, whose bodies are blue in color

They can reproduce sexually, but rarely asexually (parthenogenesis).

The female drops the eggs on the ground. After about 5 months, the animals hatch at a temperature of about 25 °C. The young animals are fully grown after about 6 months. After the last molt (imaginal molt) the males can live for about 5 months and the females up to 20 months.

Important

Since the Blue Thai Stick Insect is very fragile, special care should be taken to avoid having too many animals in an enclosure.

Before purchasing, a terrarium should be prepared that meets the species-specific needs. Good ventilation without drafts is necessary, as well as equipment for measuring temperature and humidity. The lighting has to correspond to the species-specific day-night rhythm and has to 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