What is the best stick insect food?
Blackberry. That’s it! In captivity most stick insects will do just fine on a diet of blackberry leaves, also known as bramble. Stick insect food in the wild is pretty varied, but as pets they do very well on a bramble diet. And the best thing is that you should be able to find bramble growing in the wild in both wooded and open areas. It should be washed in water thoroughly before giving it to your pet to ensure that no toxins, such as exhaust and fertilizer, are present. Another thing to avoid is giving young shoots to stick insects as there have been various reports that this does not agree with them.
Other risks related to wild bramble include leaves where spiders have laid their eggs, as spiders introduced into a stick insect vivarium can soon reek havoc, especially if there are nymphs. Another leaf pollutant is bird droppings which are not appreciated by stick insects.
If you don’t have ready access to bramble then it is easily grown. Even if you do have ready access then it is best to grow some of your own supplies so that you aren’t reduced to trawling through the snow to feed your stick insects in the winter months! All you need is a few plant pots, manure/compost, gardening gloves and pruning shears. Get some bramble with its root attached, pot it, water it, and hey presto you have a source of stick insect food. As the bramble grows trimming it regularly will encourage side shoots to grow and maximize your yield.
Beyond bramble there are plenty of other products that you can consider. The Javanese Stick Insect and Reunion Green Stick Insect enjoy eating rhododendron leaves, the Indian Stick Insect will eat ivy, and most stick insects will get by on pyracantha if they have to.
Whatever the diet, the most important thing is to have the food available throughout the day and night. Place the bramble in the housing area, and put the base of the stem in some water which is not deep enough to pose a drowning risk to the stick insects, furthermore, if you cut the stem of the bramble then it will usually remain fresh for a few days as it draws the water in through the point at which it was cut. If you are worried about using water in your vivarium then damp peat can provide the same effect.
Some species of stick insect, such as Eurycantha stick insects, require water and you should provide a small dish that does not pose a risk of drowning. This is quite a challenge, especially when you are breeding and young nymphs are prone to take a drink at the depths of the water dish.
In addition to stick insect food and water a good keeper takes into account their pets’ humidity requirements. A tropical climate, but not one that gives rise to mold is the delicate balance that needs to be achieved.
