Hello from Bristol in the UK :-)

[liz_bristol]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here so I wanted to say hi. I've just bought 8 Trachyaretaon brueckneri nymphs, due to arrive tomorrow - my first foray into the world of stick insects!

I've also got a bearded dragon called Denzil and a Syrian hamster called Hobo (also known as Houdini...) - I did have a beautiful Flower Mantis called Xena but she died :(

I've got a glass fish tank (currently with no lid - I'm getting some fine wire mesh to put over it) and I'm planning on lining it with wet paper towel and collecting some bramble for the nymphs. Any other tips would be greatly appreciated!

Liz x

[lamb12380]

Hi and welcome. It sounds like youre doing everything ok at the moment. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

[Taz Devil]

Hello and welcome to the site. I have 47 Trachy nymphs at the moment, good selection for your first stick. Ant question, feel free to ask.

[lamb12380]

What are you going to do with all them nymphs Taz? They'll be a lot to handle when they're all 12cm long.

[AlienMarky]

Bristol? Just up the road from me! Good choice of first phasmid - very fun, as long as you can keep up with their appetites :)

[Taz Devil]

What are you going to do with all them nymphs Taz? They'll be a lot to handle when they're all 12cm long.

Got a shop near me interested in the larger species, so most of them will go there. I've seen how he keeps them and feel they will be treated well. But I'll see how eager I am to get rid as these are the first sticks I have had that I have bread. (bought the Mummy and Daddy from the Kettering show last year).

[liz_bristol]

Hey my nymps have arrived, woop! The breeder sent a wicked care sheet and even put two extra nymphs in so now I have ten.

Hello to all of you too, thanks for the welcome :)

By the way, I'm usually a science and natue journalist/film-maker, but I've just made my first forays into the world of blogging. I now have a shiny new blog called Alt.pet, which is a place for normal people to find out about keeping extraordinary pets. I've only just started the blog, but there will be lots of exciting things going up, so please wander over and have a nose: www.altpet.blogspot.com (http://www.altpet.blogspot.com)

bye for now, but in the worlds of the Governator, I'll Be Back. :D

[stickinsect123]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

[liz_bristol]

Oh dear, one of the ten nymphs (all currently Brian) has reached an untimely demise :-(

He was a bit gammy anyway but it looks like he had a few issues shedding and his remaining three legs just couldn't support him anymore. *sigh*

Oh well, here's to the other nine Brians, fingers crossed!

[Taz Devil]

Sorry to hear of your loss. Unfortunately this is something that happens quite often with nymphs. But hopefully the other will be OK. Just remember to ensure there is some humidity in the enclosure so that moulting is made a little easier.

[liz_bristol]

Thanks Taz, will do. Also, has anyone else found it hard to get hold of healthy bramble during this cold snap? A quick recce of the Downs in Bristol only produced some dog-eared, frost-bitten brambles!

[lamb12380]

Yep, mine are having to put up with a bit of ivy around this time.

[Taz Devil]

I've found some that's not too bad in small woods near to me. So I'd say look anywhere that's got a bit of shading.

[liz_bristol]

Thanks for the tips. I went on a Bramble Ramble (new official name for weekly collecting effort!) and found some nice fresh stuff for them, as well as freezing my arse off in the process...

[lamb12380]

lol, I know the feeling.