Chan's megastick (Phobaeticus chani)

Short answers

Chan's megastick: How big does the enclosure need to be?

Needs to be very tall (height at least 3× the body length, i.e. over 100 cm) – a purely theoretical figure, as it is not kept in practice.

Chan's megastick: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, at night 20–23 °C.

Chan's megastick: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed; normal room lighting or daylight.

Chan's megastick: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: unknown; with large stick insects usually approx. 1–1.5 years.

Chan's megastick: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–23 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

70–90 %

UVB

No UVB needed; normal room lighting or daylight

Enclosure

Minimum size

Needs to be very tall (height at least 3× the body length, i.e. over 100 cm) – a purely theoretical figure, as it is not kept in practice

Substrate

Damp soil or coco humus; tall climbing branches for shedding

Feeding

Food

Presumably a leaf-eater (nocturnal); for related Phobaeticus species these work: eucalyptus, Syzygium (lilly pilly), bramble or Rubus, oak – not confirmed for P. chani

Feeding interval

presumably continuous feeding on fresh leaves (as with other stick insects)

Key facts

Adult size

females: body approx. 35–36 cm, up to ~56 cm with the legs outstretched (one of the longest insects in the world)

Life expectancy

unknown; with large stick insects usually approx. 1–1.5 years

Origin

Borneo (the Malaysian state of Sabah); rainforest, endemic and extremely rare

Protection status

No formal CITES listing is known; an extremely rare rainforest species known from only a few specimens – no legal stock in the hobby, and import or collection is problematic

Brumation

None (tropical)

Cohabitation

Group: no documented husbandry experience exists for Phobaeticus chani itself. Stick insects are generally group-compatible as peaceful herbivores, and many species also reproduce parthenogenetically (without males) — but neither is confirmed for this species, only transferred from the genus.

Notes

IMPORTANT: this species is NOT established in the hobby and practically not in culture – only a handful of museum specimens are known (the holotype is in the Natural History Museum, London). There are NO solid husbandry data; all the figures are derived from related Phobaeticus and giant phasmids and from the tropical Borneo climate (low confidence). It is not realistically keepable – this entry is primarily informative. A Guinness record for the longest body length of an insect.

Do you keep this species?

Add your animal to Reptoria – Reptoria reminds you about feeding and shedding. Add your animal for free →

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Related species

• Annam stick insect (Ramulus artemis) – Beginner
• Giant prickly stick insect (Extatosoma tiaratum) – Beginner
• Brueckner's stick insect (Trachyaretaon brueckneri) – Beginner
• Ceylon leaf insect (Phyllium bioculatum) – Intermediate
• Giant spiny stick insect (Aretaon asperrimus) – Beginner
• Giant spiny stick insect (Eurycantha calcarata) – Beginner
• Jungle nymph (Heteropteryx dilatata) – Intermediate
• Common leaf insect (Phyllium siccifolium) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Chan's megastick (Phobaeticus chani) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (Needs to be very tall (height at least 3× the body length, i.e. over 100 cm) – a purely theoretical figure, as it is not kept in practice), substrate (Damp soil or coco humus; tall climbing branches for shedding), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.