This is my first posted question. To read my story about how we came to own two stick insects please read my intro

You want Santa to bring you two stick insects?

The short of it is that the two insects originated from a pet shop in Ashby in the Midlands and came to us via Santa himself. They were believed to be both female. However, I am sure that either one is not developing at the same rate or is in fact a male. Is there a sue way I can tell?

Regards

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David Senior

New to keeping Stick insects
The first 2 Macleay's Spectre passed away
Eggs are now hatching

Yes. If your avatar is the sp in question you have Extostosoma tiaratum (hope that is spelt right!) often called Mccleays spectre after the naturalist who discovered it. Female are like the one in your picture. Males are slender with a good set of wings and look completely different. Google Mcleays spectre under images and a picccy of a fella should come up. Nice insects, my first exotic pet as well!

Ah, i didn't see you avatar, when you said giant spiny's i assumed you meant Eurycantha calcarata, which is what the giant spinys are

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MY SNAKES AND INVERTSLAVENDER 1.1BUTTER 1.0ABBOTTS OKEETEE 2.1BLOODRED 1.1STRAWBERRY SNOW 0.1ULTRAMEL HET CARAMEL 0.1STRIPED HOUSE SNAKE 0.1CAPE HOUSE SNAKE 0.1.1AMEL CAPE HOUSE SNAKE 1.1ROYAL PYTHON 0.1MEXICAN RED KNEE 0.0.3BRAZILLIAN WHITE KNEE 0.0.2GIANT SPINEY STICK INSECTS 2.3

hi the Giant spiny stick ( eurycantha calcarata ) female's can be up to 6in long and they have a point at the end of the tail. egg laying tube. and the male's are about 5in long and have a round end and on there back leg's they have a big spike and if they no not want to be picked up they can stab you and it hurt's and can make you bleed. these are for male's to fight with. but if you are talking about Giant prickly stick ( extatosoma tiaratum ) female's are about 5in to 8in and small wing's and male's are smaller and have longer wing's that can fly and more slender

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hi caveman are your bug's doing well then good new's

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yes mate, they are lovely, weve had two shed recently, ones turned to the dark red/black colouration of an adult

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MY SNAKES AND INVERTSLAVENDER 1.1BUTTER 1.0ABBOTTS OKEETEE 2.1BLOODRED 1.1STRAWBERRY SNOW 0.1ULTRAMEL HET CARAMEL 0.1STRIPED HOUSE SNAKE 0.1CAPE HOUSE SNAKE 0.1.1AMEL CAPE HOUSE SNAKE 1.1ROYAL PYTHON 0.1MEXICAN RED KNEE 0.0.3BRAZILLIAN WHITE KNEE 0.0.2GIANT SPINEY STICK INSECTS 2.3

good new's mate. just got one of my male's out tonight and the bloody t
hing got me so watch out haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. your bush cricket's are a little bit bigger,

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did it hurt? nice one of the bush crickets, how big are they now?

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MY SNAKES AND INVERTSLAVENDER 1.1BUTTER 1.0ABBOTTS OKEETEE 2.1BLOODRED 1.1STRAWBERRY SNOW 0.1ULTRAMEL HET CARAMEL 0.1STRIPED HOUSE SNAKE 0.1CAPE HOUSE SNAKE 0.1.1AMEL CAPE HOUSE SNAKE 1.1ROYAL PYTHON 0.1MEXICAN RED KNEE 0.0.3BRAZILLIAN WHITE KNEE 0.0.2GIANT SPINEY STICK INSECTS 2.3

I think your you are right about them being ET's. The shop said we had two females but I will post up some pictures in the picture gallery and see if you agree. The one we think is a male spends far less time eating which does concern me.

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David Senior

New to keeping Stick insects
The first 2 Macleay's Spectre passed away
Eggs are now hatching

your avatar is deffo a female et (extatastoma tiaratum) (giant prickly)(macleays spectre)
a male will be a touch thinner & smoother , none of the "frilly" bits along his abdomen .
as they grow, the differences become more & more apparent ,
especially at final shed, thay look like different species as adults.

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