Looking for stick insects for sale in Sydney? Birdsville, your small animal specialist at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney, typically has a great range of stick insects to choose from. Customers travel from right across Sydney to see our current stock and get set up with everything they need.
What You Need to Know
Several Australian stick insect species are commonly kept as pets, including the Spiny Leaf Insect (Extatosoma tiaratum), Titan Stick Insect (Acrophylla titan), Goliath Stick Insect (Eurycnema goliath), Children’s Stick Insect (Tropidoderus childrenii) and Margin winged Stick Insect (Ctenomorpha marginipennis). At Birdsville we primarily stock the Australian Spiny Leaf Insect, prized for being hardy, easygoing and happy to eat a wide range of leaves, making it the easiest species for beginners to get right. A tall, secure enclosure around 30cm x 30cm x 46cm for an adult, a steady supply of fresh leaves, daily misting for water and only occasional, gentle handling are really all that’s needed to keep one thriving. No licence or permit is required either, unlike our native reptiles. Our How to Care for Pet Stick Insects page covers the full setup in detail, including exactly which leaf species work best and how to recognise the early signs of a moult, well worth a read before yours comes home.
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Why You Should Get a Stick Insect
There’s something quietly captivating about watching a creature that’s built its entire survival strategy around not being seen. Stick insects reward patient observation with genuinely surprising behaviour, the gentle sway that mimics a twig in the breeze, the dramatic moult as they shed and regrow their exoskeleton, the almost invisible way they vanish against a branch. They ask very little in return, no walking, no noise, and a diet of leaves you can often pick straight from the backyard, and next to a dog, cat or even a rabbit, the space and ongoing cost involved barely register.
Why a Stick Insect Might Not Be Right For You
They’re a genuinely low-effort pet, but that cuts both ways. If you’re after an animal you can hold and interact with daily, a stick insect will disappoint, this is a species built for watching rather than handling. Moulting periods also demand a completely hands-off approach for days at a time, and sourcing fresh, pesticide-free leaves consistently takes a small ongoing effort that not every household wants to commit to. Lifespan is short too, most live only 6 to 18 months, so it’s a shorter commitment than most pets rather than a longer one, and a neglected enclosure can turn damp and start to smell, so it does still need regular attention despite the low daily workload. If constant novelty or an interactive pet is what you’re after, this probably isn’t it.
Great Pet for Classrooms and Small Spaces
Stick insects are an excellent choice for classrooms, share houses and apartments alike. They’re completely silent, odourless when kept clean, and their enclosure needs only a small footprint on a shelf or bench. Because several individuals can often be housed together, they also make a great group project for kids learning about lifecycles and camouflage without needing extra space or equipment.
Sexing & Refund Policy
Sex isn’t reliably visible on a Spiny Leaf Insect until it’s close to its final moult, so we can’t guarantee whether a juvenile you buy will grow into a male or female. Given that, we’re not able to offer a refund, credit or exchange based on the sex your stick insect turns out to be as it matures.
Health Guarantee
All our animals come with a health guarantee.
Availability
Stick insects are regularly in stock, with availability depending on the season and our current breeding cycles, the Spiny Leaf Insect is our most consistently available species. If we’re between batches, we’re happy to take a deposit to secure your spot on the next available group, and we can take special orders for a specific species or larger classroom and breeding quantities, just ask our team in store.
Package Deals & In-Store Help
A stick insect on its own is only part of the setup, the enclosure, climbing branches and a steady leaf supply matter just as much. Bundle them together as a package and it works out cheaper than buying each piece separately, and our team can talk you through exactly what your space and experience level call for. Everything mentioned on this page, plus plenty more, is available to see and buy in-store.
Taking Your New Stick Insect Home
Bringing a stick insect home doesn’t take much, a small ventilated container with a twig or leaf inside for grip is all that’s needed for the trip. Pick the most direct route, keep the container out of hot sun or blasting air conditioning, and skip any stops that would leave it sitting in a parked car. Once home, move it into its proper enclosure straight away rather than leaving it in the travel container. Birdsville has suitable containers in store if you need one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you always have stick insects for sale?
We regularly stock stick insects at our Alexandria store, with the Spiny Leaf Insect our most consistent species. Numbers do shift a little with breeding cycles, so if you need a specific quantity for a classroom or breeding project, it’s worth calling ahead or asking in store to confirm what’s currently available before you visit.
Should I buy just one stick insect or a group?
Either is fine. A single stick insect settles in perfectly well on its own, and small groups also live together peacefully provided there’s enough leaf supply and enclosure space to go around. It really just comes down to how many you’d like to watch and care for.
Is there anything else I need to buy at the same time?
Yes, a tall enclosure, climbing branches, substrate, a misting bottle and a steady leaf supply are all essential from day one. Birdsville stocks everything needed and can put together a package deal covering the stick insect and its full setup, so you’re not making several separate trips to get started.
How big do Spiny Leaf Insects get, and how long do they live?
Adult females reach roughly 10 to 15cm, with males noticeably smaller at around 9cm. Lifespan typically runs 6 to 18 months depending on sex and conditions, females generally live longer than males. Despite the modest size, they’re a genuinely engaging pet to watch grow and moult through each life stage.
Is a stick insect a good first pet if I’ve never kept an insect before?
Yes, the Spiny Leaf Insect is considered one of the easiest invertebrates to start with. It isn’t fussy about leaf variety, tolerates typical household temperatures without extra heating, and needs only light daily misting and occasional handling, making it a genuinely low-pressure introduction to invertebrate keeping for both kids and adults.
How much daily attention does a pet stick insect actually need?
Very little. A quick daily check that leaves are fresh and a light misting covers most of it, with occasional enclosure cleaning on top. There’s no feeding schedule to track and no walking or exercise required, which makes them a good fit for busy households or anyone easing into keeping their first pet.
Visit Us
Birdsville at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney, is where our stick insects are waiting to be seen in person. Drop in any time and our team will help you get started.
