Longy
06-10-2008, 04:28 PM
Trachyaretaon brueckneri
Common name
Giant Thorny Stick Insect
Description
Females grow up to 13cm long, the males are slightly smaller. Both sexes are wingless, brown and spiky.
General care
In my experience they are an easy species to rear, feeding on Bramble and Ivy. These insects are climbers who like some airflow as I generally find mine sitting on the vent of my tank. Airflow doesn't seem to be necessary for their survival however. Not too much spraying is required and they seem to dislike being sprayed directly. In my experience the species live for a year and a half give or take a month or two.
Breeding
Once mature a male will ride on the back of a female and mate with her regularily. Females will need some sand to lay ova due to the presence of an ovipositor. My ova hatched surprisingly quickly at around 6 months. The ova is perfectly smooth, brown and slightly sausage shaped. It is quite easy to mix the ova up with fraz.
Sex can be determined by the presence of the ovipositor on the females as they go through their moults.
http://www.insectstore.com/phasmid/gallery/files/1/3/1/img_0023.jpg
A TB nymph.
Common name
Giant Thorny Stick Insect
Description
Females grow up to 13cm long, the males are slightly smaller. Both sexes are wingless, brown and spiky.
General care
In my experience they are an easy species to rear, feeding on Bramble and Ivy. These insects are climbers who like some airflow as I generally find mine sitting on the vent of my tank. Airflow doesn't seem to be necessary for their survival however. Not too much spraying is required and they seem to dislike being sprayed directly. In my experience the species live for a year and a half give or take a month or two.
Breeding
Once mature a male will ride on the back of a female and mate with her regularily. Females will need some sand to lay ova due to the presence of an ovipositor. My ova hatched surprisingly quickly at around 6 months. The ova is perfectly smooth, brown and slightly sausage shaped. It is quite easy to mix the ova up with fraz.
Sex can be determined by the presence of the ovipositor on the females as they go through their moults.
http://www.insectstore.com/phasmid/gallery/files/1/3/1/img_0023.jpg
A TB nymph.