Centipede and Millipede Care

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Centipede and Millipede Care

Myriapods Characteristics and Keeping Them as Pets

Giant Desert CentipedeDavid Brough

Centipedes and Millipedes can be great pets when you want something different

and interesting!

Centipede and Millipede Care

What are Centipedes? Centipedes as Pets What are Millipedes? Millipedes as Pets Housing Types Terrarium Supplies Foods and Feeding References

Keeping centipedes and millipedes as pets is a fascinating hobby. Both are enjoyed for theirinteresting appearance and behaviors. But there are very important differences between a centipede

and a millipede.

A millipede is a great first arthropod to keep as a pet. It is safe even for children, with supervision.

A popular pet available in pets stores is the African Giant Millipede, which can grow up to 10

inches in length. Other pets can be collected from the wild. However if you obtain a brightly

colored specimen, they can secrete hydrogen cyanide, which can cause a burning sensation on

sensitive skin.

A centipede on the other hand, is for advanced keepers only. Centipedes are venomous and

potentially dangerous to humans, especially children. Centipedes are unlike most invertebrate petsbeing kept in captivity. They should be kept similarly to venomous snakes with a secure enclosure
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system. Once they are established in a secure enclosure and once some experience is gained in their

care and daily husbandry, centipedes can provide hours of fascination.

Taxonomically centipedes and millipedes are most commonly grouped as myriapods under the

phylum Anthropoda. These arthropods are invertebrates, just as insects are, but they have a lot more

legs. While insects only have 6 pairs of legs, the number of legs is quite variable between species ofmyriapods. The name Millipede means "10,000 legs" and the name centipede means "100 legs".

Although most don't have nearly as many as 100, there are some that have significantly more, but

there aren't any that have 10,000

Myriapods make great pets when you are simply looking for something different and interesting.

This information on housing, foods, and care requirements will help you understand these types of

pets. From here, go learn about your individual pet's behaviors and needs. Understand the type of

pet you are getting to know what to expect and what to do. This will maximize your enjoyment, as

well as the life and health of your pet. For information guides on individual species, see:Centipedes

and Millipedes, Guides to Myriapod Species.

For information on keeping other types of arthropods, see:

Land Invertebrate Care: Keeping Arachnids and Other Arthropods as Pets

What are Centipedes?

Centipedes are land dwelling invertebrates that comprise the class, Chilopoda. There are about 8000

species in the world, with about 2,500 of them named.

There are many kinds of Centipedes, but they are all rather flattened worm-like animals. Their

bodies are divided into segments. The first segment is a head with a pair of antennae and the rest of

the segments each have a pair of legs attached. Most centipedes are between 1.5 to 2" (4 - 5 cm) in

length with about 15 pairs of legs. But their sizes do range from 0.8" to 12" (2 - 30 cm) and they can

have from 15 to 191 pairs of legs. The largest centipede is Scolopendra gigantca (12") from the

tropics of Central America.

Centipedes are almost totally predatory, fast moving, and aggressive. They are very active and will

quickly scurry away from a disturbance. They usually prefer moist habitats or areas of high

humidity. Centipedes can be quite long-lived, some have been known to live up to 6 years.

Centipedes as Pets

Centipedes are fascinating pets for advanced hobbyists. However, they are not pets to be handled,

rather they are visual pets enjoyed for their interesting appearance and behaviors. Although they are

not considered aggressive towards humans, centipedes to not like to be cornered or touched and will

respond defensively in such situations.

Note: Centipedes are not for the beginner! Centipedes are potentially dangerous and should only be

kept by an advanced hobbyist.

Centipedes do not sting, but have a pair of poison claws behind the head and use the poison to

paralyze their prey, usually small insects. Though it is reported in some places on-line that the jaws
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of centipedes are weak and can rarely penetrate human skin, most of the larger specimens being

sold as pets can indeed give a very painful bite (or pinch). Careless individuals who are bitten can

expect fairly intense pain, swelling, and a throbbing sensation. Depending on the species, this pain

will last from an hour to several hours.

They do not carry diseases that can be contracted by people, animal or plants; but all centipedeshave a certain amount of venom and will bite (or pinch). The bite of even the largest centipede is

not toxic enough to be lethal. The venom usually produces only a moderate reaction similar to that

of a bee sting. Some people however, may be allergic to the venom or more sensitive to it. If there

is a significant reaction, a physician should be consulted at once

Though fascinating to watch, centipedes should be carefully manipulated with snake handling tools,

paint brushes, and thick gloves, rather than handed. Centipedes are unlike most invertebrate pets

being kept in captivity. They should be kept similarly to venomous snakes with a secure enclosure

system. Once they are established in a secure enclosure and once some experience is gained in their

care and daily husbandry, centipedes can provide hours of fascination.

What are Millipedes?

Millipedes are land dwelling invertebrates that comprise the class, Diplopoda. This class contains

about 10,000 species. Millipedes bodies are divided into segments with two pairs of legs per

segment. However they have no legs on the first segment behind the head, and then only one pair of

legs on the next few segments. But there are two pairs of legs per segment after that.

Millipedes differ from Centipedes in body shape, being more cylindrical rather than flattened. Also,

while centipedes have only a single pair of legs atttached to the sides of each body segment,

millipedes generally have 2 legs per segment and they are attached near the ventral midline.

These are mostly slow moving detritivores, that feed on decaying leaves and other dead plant

matter. They range in size from about 2" to 10" inches in length, and as they grow they shed their

skin. Some grow very large, up to a foot long. They are long lived, hardy, and can also be handled

some.

Millipedes as Pets

Millipedes They are among the easiest pet arthropods to care for. Many species can get quite large

and they can be kept together in colonies. They are gentle, nocturnal invertebrates that are long

lived, hardy, and easy to care for. They make good pets because they harmless, and can't bite you.

As far as handling, most are quite safe, but the brighter colored species can secrete hydrogen

cyanide. This is a toxic chemical which can cause a burning sensation on sensitive skin. Wash your

hands with soap and water before and after handling millipedes.

Housing Types

Enclosures for myriapods:

TerrariumsMyriapods do well in enclosures with plenty of floor space. They will spend a great deal oftime exploring their enclosure at night, searching for a tasty meal. We use 20-gallon

terrariums for most of our larger specimens. Smaller specimens can be kept in 10-gallon


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Once a month feed larger specimens a small pink mouse. Myriapods will also feed on

grasshoppers, moths, worms, and even small vertebrate prey, but be cautious of any prey

that is captured in nature as they may be carriers of internal parasites. Keep in mind that

overfed invertebrates, and especially overfed centipedes, seem to die much sooner than

those that are kept "lean and mean".

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Centipede and Millipede Care