Fruit for Extatosoma Tiaratum

[SpectreMan]

Does anyone know if ET eats any fruits:confused:? I have heard that some stick insects eat apple and other fruits, but wondered if ET ate any?

[Taz Devil]

Put a slice of apple in and see if they have a nibble.

[SpectreMan]

Thanks, I'll try it.

[Daniel Ballmer]

Normally, they just eat fruit slices when they are extremely thin. Their mouth is specialized on feeding leaves, they can't eat anything thick or broad.

[SpectreMan]

Thanks. Does anyone know if ET is a good starting species?

[Nymphe]

Normally, they just eat fruit slices when they are extremely thin. Their mouth is specialized on feeding leaves, they can't eat anything thick or broad.

Please tell that to my ET females that love munching on their bramble stems instead of the leaves, which results on half of the leaves being dropped instead of eaten. I bet they'd have little difficulty eating thicker apple slices, but I haven't tried it yet.
My Heteopteryx dilatata even nibble the bark off thicker fruit tree twigs they are supposed to climb on.


SpectreMan: ETs are a great starter species as long as you get a healthy breeding line (no inbreeding problems) and keep them in well venitlated conditions.

[Daniel Ballmer]

Yes, but the stems are in fibres. I can often watch my Canachus alligator eat stems and twigs and they do it fibre for fibre. They should have more problem with a juicy fruit.

[TheGreenMan]

Thanks. Does anyone know if ET is a good starting species?

it sure is. As was previously said in one post they need good ventilation to prevent any problems with fungal diseases but they are definitely easy and not a fussy one to keep. Ideal starter or beginner species. Since you are in australia you should be able to get good stock without any inbreeding problems and they come in a range of colours (just have a look at the thread on the green spinys). I also like the Dark red/brown morph. I will be trying to find the lichen variation of this species this year.

I don't think they would take well to bits of fruit, they are essentially a leaf eater. Guava, eucalyptus, bramble, raspberry, rose all good food plants. The ones that are in my garden feed on the Muntingia calabura tree. It is an exotic fruit tree.

[SpectreMan]

Thanks, I'll be getting a male and female today, so I hope that everything will be OK. Thanks for all of the advice everyone.