Housing
Giant millipedes are best kept in a
glass tank. Millipedes will sometimes rear up on their tails when they are wandering around, so a lid is necessary. They can be quite active and must be given enough room to wander. The tank should be as large as possible. Their tank should contain
soil bedding, such as
Eco Earth, with damp
moss placed on top. Some pieces of bark and moss can be added to make a nice display. The tank should be heated to provide a temperature of around 72° to 79°F. Millipedes will usually shy away from a light bulb, so the best form of heating is a heating mat placed
under the tank. If you decide to use a bulb we suggest using a
black or red bulb instead of a bright day light bulb, which will irritate the millipede. Millipedes like to burrow and may stay underground for quite some time. They need to be kept semi-moist, but not soaking wet.
Feeding
Giant millipedes should be fed fresh fruits and vegetables three times a week. Dried pellet food, such as iguana or uromastyx pellet food, should always be available in the cage. They should also have constant access to clean, fresh
gel water in the cage.
Helpful Hints
Millipedes are fascinating creatures to keep. The giant tropical species are very similar to our own garden millipedes, but they can grow up to 28 cm long. They are usually imported from Africa, South America, and Malaysia. The African are most common, but they appear to be less active during the day than the others. Giant millipedes are generally dark brown in color with orange bands around their segments. Their bodies are made up of many segments, and they have approximately 150+ legs. When a millipede is scared, it will curl up into a tight ball until it feels the danger has passed. Giant millipedes can live for several years and become quite tame.
It is not a good idea to handle millipedes too much, since some species exude a noxious fluid. The fluid can be slightly acidic and may sting if not washed off immediately. Sometimes, the fluid is nothing more than a dye, which will leave a temporary stain on the skin. Millipedes can be injured easily if they are dropped, since they have no clotting agents in their blood.
Millipedes can usually get along in groups, although fighting is possible. Owners should be alert to any signs of fighting and separate the millipedes as needed.
You will find that the millipede is often found to have tiny cleaner bugs on it. These bugs will eat the dirt off of the millipede, and, if the millipede gets too many bugs, it will make a snack out of some of them. These cleaner bugs should not leave the millipede and are not a bad thing.
Spray the millipede lightly with water to ensure that it does not become too dry. As with all animals, please wash your hands after handling them.
