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RIP Zucchini

Well, this is sad. I came home from work last night to find that both of my daughter's female stick insects had died. I did suspect they wouldn't last very long, as when they arrived they were larger than I thought I was buying - mature rather than the nymphs I expected. However, I had hoped that they would live a little longer than this. It's possible that they fell victim to the ministrations of a six year old, and one of the females had a habit of escaping to it's also possible they were exposed to environmental issues. Though given their size, and the fact that Zucchini at least had started to slow down a week or two ago, I do suspect old age.
I now have to decide whether or not to replace the females. I know that my daughter would like me to, but she does still have the two males to look after. And I have not been cleaning the floor or the enclosure in the hopes that there may be eggs in there. So it may be that there will be stick insect nymphs in there soon. I hope so, anyway. If not, maybe she will be happy to help me with the millipedes that will be arriving next week?

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