Giant stick insect (Pharnacia ponderosa)

Short answers

Giant stick insect: How big does the enclosure need to be?

40–50×40–50×60 cm minimum, ~90 cm of height recommended (height at least 3× the body length, important for shedding).

Giant stick insect: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 22–28 °C, at night ~20 °C.

Giant stick insect: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Giant stick insect: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: approx. 12 months.

Giant stick insect: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

22–28 °C

Night temperature

~20 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

60–70 % (middling figures, little documented for this species)

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

40–50×40–50×60 cm minimum, ~90 cm of height recommended (height at least 3× the body length, important for shedding)

Substrate

Damp coco humus or soil; stable climbing branches

Feeding

Food

Bramble, raspberry, oak, beech

Feeding interval

fresh leaves at all times; mist regularly

Key facts

Adult size

females up to ~21 cm body length (very large and slender)

Life expectancy

approx. 12 months

Origin

The Philippines

Protection status

Not protected (not listed under CITES or German nature conservation law); commonly available captive-bred

Brumation

None

Cohabitation

Group: a peaceful species that copes well even in larger groups. Sufficient enclosure height is key so animals can safely descend on silk to moult - overcrowded, too-short enclosures otherwise lead to moulting falls.

Notes

A very large species – terrarium height is the critical factor (in too low an enclosure it falls during the moult → deformity). The nymphs are easy to manage up to L3, and nervous and delicate from L4. Exact climate figures are sparse in the sources – standard tropical values are used.

Do you keep this species?

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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
• Chan's megastick (Phobaeticus chani) – Expert
• Giant spiny stick insect (Aretaon asperrimus) – Beginner
• Giant spiny stick insect (Eurycantha calcarata) – Beginner
• Jungle nymph (Heteropteryx dilatata) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Giant stick insect (Pharnacia ponderosa) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (40–50×40–50×60 cm minimum, ~90 cm of height recommended (height at least 3× the body length, important for shedding)), substrate (Damp coco humus or soil; stable climbing branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.