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The Quirkiest Pets Around
Are you looking to get yourself a quirky,low maintenance, and super interesting new pet?
Introducing theExtatosomatiaratum, but we call them Spiny Leaf Insects for short.These cool critters are native to Australia, designed to thrive in Brisbane’s climate and area great pet for the kids. Interested in finding out more? Join the team at Brookies as we explore what makes these insects so cool, and how to care for them.
Spiny Leaf Insects are famous for their amazing ability to camouflage themselves in the bush, being able to make themselves look like a dead leaf toprotect themselves from becoming apredator's snack. Needing so little maintenance and having a very gentle nature they are ideal pet from the inexperienced to the most passionate insect enthusiast. They are also fascinating insects with unique behaviours that can be used to teach the little ones about the wonder of nature.
TheSpiny Leaf Insects Home
To care for your Spiny LeafInsects,you’ll need to find them the perfect home.We recommend an upright mesh or glass terrarium at least 40cm high, 30cm wide and deep for a single adult,this gives them plenty of space to explore and moult. Make sure that the enclosure has plenty of ventilation anddoesn’t have any small gaps that they can use to escape.
Our climate here in Brisbane isgenerally great for Spiny Leaf Insects, they tend to thrive in temperatures between 24 and 28 degrees with humidity levels between 70-80%.Tomaintain a healthytemperature, we recommend having your enclosure out of direct sunlight or drafty areas.
Like anything we recommend regular cleaning to reduce the chance ofmold and bacteria growing in the enclosure. Remove any uneaten food and wasteweekly and give it a quick wipe down with an insect safe disinfectant.
Diet
Spiny Leaf Insects are herbivores; theymainly eat fresh eucalyptus leaves, which are in no short supply around Brisbane. Replace the leaves every few days or when the leaves start to wilt. You can also give your Spiny Leaf Insects other foods such as bramble, rose,raspberry andguava.
Handling yourSpiny Leaf Insects
Spiny Leaf Insects are known fortheir gentle nature allowing them to be handled, just be sure to be careful. Simply put your handin front of them andthey’ll naturally climb onto it. Asthey’re small and delicate creatures be sure to handle them gently and to not squeeze or grab them, the female Spiny Leaf Insects also have small spines on their legswhich can cause some pain ifyou grab them.
There it is! A quick rundown on these quirky, curious, and beautiful petsfor thosewith a taste for the unusual out there.If you are wanting to get some Spiny Leaf Insects of your own, come down to Brookies Capalaba as we have these beautiful creatures in stock now. Be quick cause theywon’t stick around for long.