CALCBIOME — STICK INSECT CALCULATOR

What enclosure and how much bramble for your stick insects?

Minimum enclosure size, leaves and branches per week, misting and egg incubation, by species, number and age.

11 SPECIESCarausius, Extatosoma, Phyllium, Heteropteryx, Eurycantha, Peruphasma…
ENCLOSURE AND FOODMinimum height, branches per week, the right food plant.
EGGSIncubation time and parthenogenesis.

Open the calculator ↓ 100% free

Your stick insects

Result

Keeping stick insects: the basic rules

Height: at least 3 times the adult length, because they molt hanging down.
Width: at least 2 times the adult length, more if you keep many.
Food: bramble suits almost every species. Change branches before they dry out.
Water: they drink droplets on the leaves, hence the misting.
Never release exotic stick insects or their eggs in the wild.

Guidelines per species (adults)

Species	Adult size	Min. height	Food plant	Incubation
Aretaon asperrimus	7 cm	30 cm	bramble	3–4 months of incubation
Carausius morosus	8.5 cm	30 cm	ivy	2–4 months of incubation
Clonopsis gallica	7 cm	30 cm	bramble	6–12 months of incubation
Eurycantha calcarata	13 cm	40 cm	bramble	4–6 months of incubation
Extatosoma tiaratum	15 cm	45 cm	bramble	4–9 months of incubation
Heteropteryx dilatata	15 cm	45 cm	bramble	8–14 months of incubation
Medauroidea extradentata	12 cm	40 cm	bramble	3–4 months of incubation
Peruphasma schultei	6 cm	30 cm	privet	3–4 months of incubation
Phyllium philippinicum	9 cm	30 cm	bramble	4–6 months of incubation
Ramulus artemis	14 cm	45 cm	bramble	2–4 months of incubation
Sipyloidea sipylus	8.5 cm	30 cm	bramble	1–2 months of incubation

Average values for adult females. Males are often smaller.

How we calculate

Height = 3 × the adult female’s length, rounded up to the next 5 cm, at least 30 cm.
Base = 2 × adult length × √(number of stick insects ÷ 4) for adults, or ÷ 10 for nymphs. Up to 4 adults (or 10 nymphs), the base stays 2 × the length.
Width = base, rounded up to the next 5 cm, at least 20 cm. Depth = base × 0.75, rounded up to the next 5 cm, at least 20 cm. Volume = width × depth × height ÷ 1,000.
Leaves per week = adult length × 0.15 leaf a day (adults) or × 0.05 (nymphs), × 7 days × number of insects, rounded, at least 1.
Branches per week = leaves ÷ 10, rounded up, at least 1.

Example

4 adult Extatosoma tiaratum (15 cm). Height = 3 × 15 = 45 cm. Base = 2 × 15 = 30 cm, so width 30 cm and depth 30 × 0.75 = 22.5, rounded up to 25 cm: a 30 × 25 × 45 cm (34 L) enclosure. Leaves = 15 × 0.15 × 7 × 4 = ≈ 63 leaves / week, about 7 branches of bramble.

Sources: Australian Museum (height for moulting, misting), Phasmid Study Group (Extatosoma tiaratum food plants). These are guidelines: more height is always better.

Frequently asked questions

How tall should a stick insect enclosure be?

At least 3 times the adult length, because they moult hanging upside down. Without that height, a moult can go wrong.

What do stick insects eat?

Bramble suits almost every species. Some also eat ivy, privet, oak or eucalyptus.

How often should I change the branches?

Every 4–5 days, in a closed water pot so nymphs cannot drown.

Do I need a male to get eggs?

Not always: many species breed without males. The calculator shows this for each species, along with incubation time.

In the same category

Mantis feeding calculator Isopod and springtail calculator Giant African land snail calculator Hermit crab tank calculator Giant millipede calculator Beetle larvae calculator Isopod genetics calculator

Missing species? Found an error?

Write to me: I add requested species and fix the numbers.

Give feedback