Extatosoma tiaratum

i had 5 of them and they all died, first i had 2 nymphs-died for no reason then another two-same again...death and then i managed to get an adult-died from old age ... they are very dificult to keep as nymphs because of their unpredictable deaths but one of the easiest as adults
if you can, get some eucalyptus...it really brings out their coulors and they live longer....
im hoping to get some more

Don't they mimic scorpions or ants when they are smaller?

Nice specimen!

Venom, the young of several mantids mimic ants, but I'm unaware of phasmids that do so. The resemblance of adults of this species to scorpions is purely coincidental, as the most suited camouflage in their environment is mimicking a dead, curled leaf.

Scorpio, I'm surprised you didn't have much success with this species. I didn't raise two nymphs into healthy adults reaching nearly eight inches in length.

Venom wrote:

Don't they mimic scorpions or ants when they are smaller?

yea they do...but so do immature indian stick insects

that's awsome...