Stick Insects - please come and tell me about them

[TheKitchenWitch]

Would you recommend them for a first-time insect owner? What do they need? Which type is best? Any reason not to?

Yes. I had them for my DS when he was about 9. You have to toddle out and get food for them (we used to pluck ivy!!) and put that in, leave a paper towel with water in it as they can fall into a water bowl and drown. They're pretty easy to look after and far easier than other pets of the furry nature. You can buy a 'kit' with a pop up house and the baby stick insects (or eggs, I can't remember) and watch them grow.

For the love of god, don't do it!! Sorry but we had a population explosion in our tank, found that the babies are tiny enough to squeeze out of miniscule gaps and I found the small stick like fuckers everywhere. Still makes me shudder now. not envy by the way

We had them when I was a child and we had the same problems with them laying hundreds of eggs and the babies escaping. I suppose if you have an escape proof tank they are a fairly low maintenance pet, but they are not that exciting.

Yes Eddie the little fuckers appear where and when you least expect - like on your shoulder when you're chilling in front of the tv. My brothers had them we were all children; why, I don't know. They're creepy, boring and most unattractive.

However, if insects float your boat OP I guess they're a good starting point.

Well I rather love insects and I thought they might be a good starting point. DH is not so enamoured of 6 (or 8) legged creatures so I'm hoping to get him used to the idea slowly. Stick insects seem to be the least insect-looking iykwim.
Am horrified at the idea of babies getting though!
I assume you can buy some sort of tank or terrarium which comes with an escape-proof lid?
Also, what do you do with the hundreds of eggs/babies? Surely there's no market for selling them (if they breed so easily)?

We have other pets (dog and rats), btw, I just quite fancy having an insect for once.

My friend had stick insects, she froze and disposed of the eggs before hatching