Sunny Stick Insect

Sunny Stick Insect Care Guide

Sungaya inexpectata – PSG 195

Size

• Adult: up to 8cm
• Lifespan: around 1 year
• Females are generally larger than males.

Housing

• Tall, well-ventilated enclosure with plenty of vertical space.
• Minimum around 30 × 30 × 45cm for a small group.
• Provide branches and plenty of space to hang vertically for moulting.
• Fine mesh is ideal for ventilation and preventing escapes.

Temperature

• 21–26°C is suitable.
• Normal household temperatures are generally adequate.
• Avoid excessive heat and direct sunlight.

Lighting

• UVB is not required.
• Provide a normal day/night cycle using ambient room light or a low-output LED.
• Keep lighting from overheating or drying the enclosure.

Humidity

• Aim for approximately 60–80%.
• Lightly mist the enclosure every few days.
• Good ventilation is essential to prevent stagnant, overly wet conditions.

Food

• Fresh bramble is an excellent staple.
• Other suitable foods include:
  • Hawthorn
  • Raspberry
  • Rose
  • Hazel
  • Oak
  • Ivy
  • Beech
• Always use pesticide-free plants.
• Keep food fresh and replace when it starts to wilt.

Water

• They drink droplets from leaves and enclosure surfaces.
• Light misting provides most of their water.
• Do not use an open water bowl.

Shedding

• Provide plenty of vertical hanging space.
• Do not disturb a stick insect while it is moulting.
• A failed moult can be fatal, so adequate humidity and space are important.

Handling

• Generally calm and suitable for careful beginners.
• Allow the insect to walk onto your hand rather than grabbing it.
• Never pull on the legs or body.
• Extra care is needed immediately before and after moulting.

Health

• Common problems include failed moults, dehydration and injury.
• Check regularly for lethargy, difficulty climbing or abnormal moulting.
• Lost limbs can sometimes regenerate during subsequent moults, particularly in younger insects.

Cleaning

• Remove old leaves and droppings regularly.
• Replace any mouldy or decomposing food.
• Wipe down the enclosure when necessary.
• If using a substrate, keep it clean and avoid excessive dampness.

Before You Bring Your Animal Home

• Tall, well-ventilated enclosure.
• Secure branches/twigs.
• Fresh pesticide-free food plants.
• Fine misting bottle.
• Digital thermometer/hygrometer.
• Suitable substrate or easily cleaned floor covering.
• Ensure there is sufficient height for successful moulting.

Important Bits

• 🌿 Fresh bramble should form the main part of the diet.
• 💧 Mist regularly so they can drink droplets from the leaves.
• 🪵 Vertical space is essential for moulting.
• 🦗 Sunny Stick Insects can reproduce without a male, so egg numbers can build up quickly.
• 🚫 Never release unwanted stick insects or eggs into the wild.
• 🧤 Handle gently — their legs are delicate despite their robust appearance.