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These two groups of animals, though widely popular, have very little in the way of published accurate information. Millipedes & Centipedes are often viewed as similar creatures but their habits could not be more different. Much like walking sticks and praying mantids. Yes, they both have a lot of legs and “yes,” they are both long and crawl on the ground but that’s about all they have in common. |
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I am often bombarded at shows with questions about these two arthropods. Mostly in regards to “where do I get a millipede and how do I take care of them?” and “what are centipedes doing in my house and do they bite?” First of all here is the disclaimer: There are many, many different species of centipedes and millipedes. They are taxonomically divided into different groups based on physical structures and among those groups of similar structure the cladistics (habits and lifestyle) vary enormously. That being said, here we go….. |
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Millipedes are usually found in damp places; under leaves, moss, stones, logs etc. Most millipedes DO NOT bite people, although they have been known to “nibble” from time to time. The nibbling is not an attack in any way but if your hands are sweaty they will nibble on you to try and get some of the salts. Most millipedes are scavengers and feed on decaying plant material. Some will attack living plants and can do serious damage in gardens and green houses. There are a few species that are predacious. Many species are able to give off a foul smelling liquid through openings a long the sides of the body. It is sometimes strong enough to kill insects that are in the same sealed container with them. This liquid has in some cases been shown to contain hydrogen cyanide which causes nausea if swallowed. SO DON’T LICK THEM! NO ONE has ever died from a millipede. Side note: Large, round species of millipedes may support populations of small active mites. They are called “commensals”. They are free living life forms that use the millipede as a place to live. (Humans have something similar in our eyelashes). Anyone who has held or owned a millipede has seen these. They do not harm the millipede in anyway but millipedes do seem to become annoyed if there are too many. They will burrow to try to shave some off. If you are an owner or rather a “care taker” of millipedes a quick rinse under the faucet will reduce them drastically but the truth is they are impossible to get rid of. (mites are of the genus Neomegistus)
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Now I am considered to be an authority on the husbandry of many arthropods but even I have learned through my mistakes. I started the Creepy Crawly Zoo in 1995 in my last semester at UW Madison. I was a research assistant in the Entomology Department for 3 years as an undergrad. Even with all the resources one could possibly imagine at my finger tips, there was very little in the way of reliable published material regarding centipedes and millipedes. It wasn’t till the year 2002 that I came across “The Guide to Owning Millipedes and Centipedes” by Jerry G Walls. This is the best (and only) book for all your millipede questions. This book corrected many of the mistakes I was making and Mr. Walls has my personal thanks for writing this book. It is a must for anyone who wishes to own a millipede. Anyway, here is the gist of it: The Terrarium: There is much room for leeway here. As of recently I have used a new substrate that has far exceeded my expectations with millipedes. I've used all the post mentioned products with mixed results. Eco-earth by Zoo Med Laboratories is the best! My millipedes are more active, eat better and are reproducing. I don't have an answer as to why, (no they are not a sponsor) but the difference was almost immediate and I couldn't be happier. If you can't find Eco-Earth at your local pet store you can use a variety of substrates from soil to commercial barks. (NEVER use Cedar!) It is a natural insect repellent and will kill arthropods and even cause nerve damage in reptiles as well.) Cypress mulch works well because of it’s ability to hold moisture, Cactus mix, soil and leaf litter from your own backyard and any commercial substrate sold in pet stores for reptiles will work. Vermiculite will work but I don’t recommend it. It is sterile, which reduces unwanted pests and it holds moisture well. I do find however, that over time it tends to form a silvery coat on the millipedes. Millipedes do not like it hot and will do just fines at 75°F. All millipedes even those of the desert prefer cool and moist environments. Humidity shouldn’t be so high that condensation forms. Misting twice a week or so is adequate unless you live in my adopted state of Arizona, Then misting daily is recommended. Given the chance, African Millipedes will climb readily. Some sort of cover should be provided as millipedes don’t care for light. Food: Millipedes are general plant feeders and scavengers. Lettuce, greens of all sorts, tomatoes, apples or fruit in general, commercial iguana food, turtle food, dog food, cat food and they even seem to be fond of fish food flakes. Uneaten food should be removed when it molds. Food can be provided in a plate or scattered. African Millipedes will also drink water from a bowl. They do not mind being handled but extreme caution should be take that they do not fall! If dropped from a table height on to a hard surface they are likely not to survive for long after.
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