Thorny Stick Insects For Sale UK (A. asperrimus) - PSG 118 Sabah Spiky Phasmids
Looking for a prehistoric-looking pet with easy care requirements? The Sabah Thorny Stick Insect (Aretaon asperrimus) is a standout choice for both beginner and expert entomology hobbyists. These phasmids are famous for their rugged, armour-like spines and docile temperament, making them one of the most unique-looking insects available in the UK.
🔍 At A Glance: Thorny Stick Insect Husbandry Summary:
Scientific Name: Aretaon asperrimus (PSG 118)
Common Names: Sabah Thorny Stick Insect | Thorny Stick Insect
Adult Size & Lifespan: Males 5–6cm, females 8–9cm | Approximately 1 year
Breeding & Reproduction: Sexual reproduction only (not parthenogenetic). Females lay eggs using an ovipositor into substrate. Eggs incubate well in moist sphagnum moss at 20–22°C, hatching in 2–6 months (4 months average).
Ideal Climate: Temperature: 20–24°C (Kept at 20–22°C The EntoScapes Way) | Humidity: 60–80% (Kept at 70–80% The EntoScapes Way to support clean moulting).
Physical Identification & Behaviour: Highly docile, slow-moving phasmids covered in rugged, armour-like spines used for passive defence. Notable sexual dimorphism where the larger, bulkier female often carries the slender, spikier male on her back. Shows unique ground-dwelling tendencies, frequently hiding under low bark pieces during the day rather than staying high in the canopy.
Place of Origin: Sabah, Borneo.
Dietary Preferences: Foliage feeders requiring pesticide-free, safely sourced bramble, ivy, rose, and raspberry leaves. Stems must be served in fresh water jars securely plugged with paper towels or sponges to prevent smaller nymphs from drowning.
Enclosure Sizing & Maintenance: Requires an arboreal habitat at least 3x the insect’s length in height and 2x in width (e.g., a 60x30cm enclosure comfortably houses 5–10 individuals). Wire mesh cages are highly recommended for optimal cross-ventilation. Females require a deep container or pot of damp soil/sand for egg-laying. Line the floor with plain paper towels to catch frass, manage moisture, and easily isolate eggs.
At EntoScapes, our stick insects are ethically UK captive-bred to ensure peak health and vitality. They will arrive to you feeding well on common host plant bramble, but can also eat raspberry leaves and some ivy.
Explore our research-backed care guides below to learn why these hardy insects are perfect for high-welfare bioactive terrariums.
We prioritize research-backed husbandry to ensure your insects are hardy and thriving when they reach you. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced keeper, our insects are hand-selected for quality.
See the tabs below for our biology-led care guides.
- Appearance: Aretaon asperrimus is possibly one of our favourite stick insect species just simply because they look like they're wearing spiky armour! Both males and females feature spiny protrusions along their bodies and legs, which mimic the texture of the woody stems and thorns found in their natural habitat.
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Sexual Dimorphism: Females are much larger and bulkier, reaching about 8–9cm, with a distinct "ovipositor" at the end of their abdomen for laying eggs in the soil. Males are slimmer, more "spiky" in appearance, and grow to about 5–6cm. You will more often than not see the smaller male clinging to the back of the larger females as he waits until the right moment to "pair"
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Behaviour: A very docile species that prefers to spend most of the daytime hiding behind pieces of bark, blending in with their brown and tan colouration. Despite the "thorny" name, they are not aggressive. Their spines are for passive defence (making them hard to swallow for predators) rather than attack, They are very slow moving and generally calm when handled
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Ground-Dwelling Tendencies: Unlike many other stick insects that like to stay high in the canopy, A.asperrimus are sometimes found nearer the bottom of enclosures under bark hides
- Egg-laying: Females will lay their eggs in substrate using their ovipositor, so it’s important to have a deepish dish of soil at the bottom of the enclosure that you can remove and routinely freeze and replace. This keeps on top of eggs, but if you do incubate some then they will hatch between 2-6 months, with 4 months being the average time.
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