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Millipedes are kept by many people, and kids enjoy this strange creature with so many legs. Here is some basic info and care..
Millipedes can be found in most countries throughout the world, even the cooler climate of the UK supports a couple of species. These do not grow as big as the african species common to hobbyists collections, reaching a full size of around 2", some african millipedes have been known to reach sizes of up to 11", but have the same basic nature and habits. Millipedes can also be found in extreme desert climates, but rarely due to the harsh conditions. None have been found in the extreme cold conditions of places like the arctic circle, obviously......
By nature, millipedes are extremely docile and readily handled unlike most other pet bugs. Not all are always happy about this though, the African olive, for one, has a tendency to secrete its chemical onto your fingers unless you are as gentle with it as is humanly possible. Others will just roll themselves into a coil and stay like that until you put them back into their home.Millipedes can live anywhere from 1 to10 years, around 3 to 5 seems to be the average. Once they start to die from old age, they become slower and sleep more, to the point that they will hardly move around at all, except to feed.. which is also done less. Growth will stop, as they will have reached adult size by this point. Most millipedes are nocturnal, so will need a place to hide away during daylight hours. Also, some species like to burrow, so adequate substrate should be provided for this.. The amount of burrowing varies from species to species...
Your basic care,
Diet, Babies and adults eat bananas, tomatoes, melons, romaine lettuce, apples, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables. Millipedes should have a supply of calcium added to their diet, like calcium vitamin powder, or a cuttle bone thats made for birds,which can be purchased from most pet stores.
size that some can reach 7.5 to 11 inches. growth speed is slow, temperature at which they should be kept 75 to 82 F. Humidity 75 to 80%. Temperament docile and calm....
Housing Babies can live in a roomy clear plastic container with air holes. Adults can live in a 5 to 10 gal. tank, depending on the size of the millipede... Millipedes can live communally. The tank should be twice as long, and at least as wide as the individual, or the largest millipede in the tank. Floor space is more important than height.
Substrate 3 to 4 inches of peat moss mix and potting soil, kept moist. You can also put moss in there cage and rotting logs..I put a rock or two in for climbing if you have no log or branch in the cage..
(The Ghana Red Banded Millipede)
Millipedes can be found in most countries throughout the world, even the cooler climate of the UK supports a couple of species. These do not grow as big as the african species common to hobbyists collections, reaching a full size of around 2", some african millipedes have been known to reach sizes of up to 11", but have the same basic nature and habits. Millipedes can also be found in extreme desert climates, but rarely due to the harsh conditions. None have been found in the extreme cold conditions of places like the arctic circle, obviously......
By nature, millipedes are extremely docile and readily handled unlike most other pet bugs. Not all are always happy about this though, the African olive, for one, has a tendency to secrete its chemical onto your fingers unless you are as gentle with it as is humanly possible. Others will just roll themselves into a coil and stay like that until you put them back into their home.Millipedes can live anywhere from 1 to10 years, around 3 to 5 seems to be the average. Once they start to die from old age, they become slower and sleep more, to the point that they will hardly move around at all, except to feed.. which is also done less. Growth will stop, as they will have reached adult size by this point. Most millipedes are nocturnal, so will need a place to hide away during daylight hours. Also, some species like to burrow, so adequate substrate should be provided for this.. The amount of burrowing varies from species to species...
Your basic care,
Diet, Babies and adults eat bananas, tomatoes, melons, romaine lettuce, apples, cucumbers, and other fruits and vegetables. Millipedes should have a supply of calcium added to their diet, like calcium vitamin powder, or a cuttle bone thats made for birds,which can be purchased from most pet stores.
size that some can reach 7.5 to 11 inches. growth speed is slow, temperature at which they should be kept 75 to 82 F. Humidity 75 to 80%. Temperament docile and calm....
Housing Babies can live in a roomy clear plastic container with air holes. Adults can live in a 5 to 10 gal. tank, depending on the size of the millipede... Millipedes can live communally. The tank should be twice as long, and at least as wide as the individual, or the largest millipede in the tank. Floor space is more important than height.
Substrate 3 to 4 inches of peat moss mix and potting soil, kept moist. You can also put moss in there cage and rotting logs..I put a rock or two in for climbing if you have no log or branch in the cage..
(The Ghana Red Banded Millipede)
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