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Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred
A site to share your Reptile experiances & ask questions
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mark_w
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Joined: 02 Nov 2005
Posts: 440
Location: Buxton, Derbyshire
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 Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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Cheers Keiron.
I'm hoping for eggs soon...
Mark. |
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keiron
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Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 244
Location: LEAMINGTON SPA
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| Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2006 12:10 am Post subject: |
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| no worries mate good luck with them |
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Rickeezee
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Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Posts: 9249
Location: Kent
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| Posted: Thu Jul 06, 2006 7:50 am Post subject: |
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Dead chuffed have managed to score a load more Macleays Spectres.
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www.rickslivefood.co.uk
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keiron
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Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 244
Location: LEAMINGTON SPA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:20 am Post subject: |
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| Rick, mark, how are you both getting on with your phasmid phriends? |
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Rickeezee
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Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Posts: 9249
Location: Kent
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:19 am Post subject: |
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| keiron wrote: | | Rick, mark, how are you both getting on with your phasmid phriends? |
Hi Keiron thanks for asking.
Well the original six I got are now huge! The males have full wings the females stubby little wings. I would say from end to end if straight out they measure about 5-6 inches! So I would imagine they are not far of breeding age.
Have noticed that when I pick up their tank or get close to their tank, that they do this quiver with their bodies that lasts for about ten seconds, then they start to rock and sway on the bramble, must be a self preservation thing to look like leaves in the breeze.
It is a nightmare cleaning them out though, as they tend to grip onto you with their hook like Velcro feet. You cant pull them off or they will lose a limb! I find using a pen helps, they tend to climb onto this then can be transferred more easily.
In my garden are two immature eucalyptus trees, apparently the macleays will eat eucalyptus but it must be the right sort! I never knew that there was more than one variety of eucalyptus! Anyway they eat the leaves from the ones in my garden, also feeding well on the bramble. My herp room now smells of eucalyptus 
Am looking forward to watching the females shoot their eggs around the tank. I have been told they shoot the eggs some fair distance. I would guess this is to increase survival rates and disbursement area in the wild? Have not experienced seeing this yet, so am keen to view the egg firing, wonder what happens if the egg hits another macleays.
I have read that the eggs take about nine months to hatch, what a long time, must be so they hatch out springtime the following year?
A highly unusual insect to keep and completely fascinating, am looking forward to seeing the complete life cycle. 
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keiron
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Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 244
Location: LEAMINGTON SPA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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yeah it is bizarre the way they shake and sway when disturbed, i agree with you it must be a defensive behaviour as i have seen a lot of stick and leaf insects do this, just adds to their act as a twig or leaf!
the eggs do take an incredibly long time to hatch but in the end you will be rewarded with lots of babies, wait till you have to clean them out they are a handful and surprisingly fast!
anyway sounds like yours are not far off adult, sounds like the males are there just need to wait for the females and you should start seeing eggs pretty soon good luck with them
keiron |
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Rickeezee
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Joined: 18 Nov 2005
Posts: 9249
Location: Kent
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