Q&A for How to Care for Millipedes

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Are there any other tips for making a millipede habitat?

Brandon Runyon
Entomology and Pest Control Expert
Brandon Runyon is a board-certified Entomologist based in Evansville, Indiana. He has over 18 years of experience as a Pest Control professional, and is the Technical Director of Swat Pest Management. Swat Pest Management serves areas throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, where they provide safe, cost-effective solutions for client’s pest control needs. He authored Bugged by Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide to Pest Control, a user-friendly guide to commercial pest control practices in hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Entomology, and received a MS in Entomology from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also received an MBA from Western Governors University.

Brandon Runyon

Entomology and Pest Control Expert

Expert Answer

I also suggest on replicating their natural environment based on their origin. For North American millipedes, use a moist substrate mix of soil, peat moss, and leaf litter, maintaining a temperature of 70-75°F and high humidity. Provide hiding spots with bark and rocks, and feed them decaying plant material, fruits, and vegetables. For desert millipedes, use a sand, soil, and coconut coir substrate, keep the temperature around 75-85°F with lower humidity, and include rocks and dry wood for shelter. Offer moisture-rich foods like lettuce and cucumbers.

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Question

What fruits and vegetables are good for millipedes?

Brandon Runyon
Entomology and Pest Control Expert
Brandon Runyon is a board-certified Entomologist based in Evansville, Indiana. He has over 18 years of experience as a Pest Control professional, and is the Technical Director of Swat Pest Management. Swat Pest Management serves areas throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois, where they provide safe, cost-effective solutions for client’s pest control needs. He authored Bugged by Bugs: A Comprehensive Guide to Pest Control, a user-friendly guide to commercial pest control practices in hotels, restaurants, apartments, and offices. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Entomology, and received a MS in Entomology from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also received an MBA from Western Governors University.

Brandon Runyon

Entomology and Pest Control Expert

Expert Answer

Romaine lettuce, apples, and cucumbers. These foods provide essential nutrients that support the health and growth of millipedes. Adding these items to their diet ensures they receive an adequate amount of calcium.

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Question

How much would I have to feed a millipede each day?

Community Answer

Not very much, since a millipede will not eat more food than the size of its head each day. If you have a fish, you can also give the millipede some fish food for protein.

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Question

Do the cuttlefish bones have to be ground up?

Community Answer

Yes, it is highly recommended for the pieces to be ground up so that they are more manageable for the millipedes.

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Question

How long do they live for?

Community Answer

An average millipede lives up to 7 years, but it depends on the species.

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Question

How big does the home have to be?

Community Answer

At least one gallon would be fine, but the bigger the better.

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Question

Are the millipedes supposed to be kept at 20-35 degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit?

Community Answer

Celsius. Freezing cold temperatures would kill the millipede very quickly.

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Question

How long do they stay underground, and when do they come out?

Community Answer

They stay underground a lot when they are young, but when they mature, they come out quite a bit.

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Question

Can I keep it in a yogurt pot?

Community Answer

It is not advised. Just buy a Sterlite container. The Sterlite container lets oxygen through, and keeps humidity in.

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Question

What do millipedes do after they molt?

Community Answer

They like to sit while their exoskeleton hardens, then they assume their normal routines.

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Question

What can I use if I don't have a heat mat?

Community Answer

If you don't have a heat mat you can put it on a warm tabletop or a warm surface. If that is not an option, you can buy an under-tank heater at a pet store.

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Question

How big does the vivarium have to be?

Community Answer

At least one gallon, but the bigger the better!

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Question

How long can a millipede grow?

Austin Helmick

Community Answer

It really depends on the species of millipede, but most grow to an average of 2 - 4 inches. There are species that are only 2 - 15 mm long. But there are also species like the Giant African Millipede that can grow to over 15 inches long. There are ancient species of millipedes that are extinct that grew to over 6 feet long!

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Question

Is it OK if I have other bugs in the same container?

Community Answer

Yes, but it depends on the type of bugs you add. It's possible that they might fight if you choose the wrong bugs. For example, I would avoid adding any ground beetles.

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Question

Is there any food that has calcium?

Community Answer

Yes. Foods like broccoli, kiwi, egg shells (boil these for safety), potato, oranges, kale, Chinese cabbage and spinach are edible for millipedes.

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Question

What do I do with their eggs?

Erik Petrovich

Community Answer

Try to be as delicate as you can with them. It can take up to 3 months for the eggs to hatch, so just pay extra diligence to them when you clean the enclosure.

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Question

Can I put babies and big ones together

Erik Petrovich

Community Answer

Absolutely! As long as they are of the same species, this is completely acceptable

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Question

Can I keep them inside an Altoids box with little holes for them to breathe?

Community Answer

You can, but make sure it has been cleaned thoroughly. The peppermint oil in the Altoids is a natural insect/bug repellant and will bother them. If any peppermint scent remains after you've cleaned the box, select a different home for your millipedes.

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Question

How can I make a millipede reproduce?

Community Answer

You can't, but you can create conditions favorable to mating. Place a few millipedes in the same vivarium and if the conditions are right they will mate. After they mate, the female will lay eggs under a leaf or piece of wood. Do not disturb the eggs. You need a large container of 30-40 gallons/litres to house all the babies as they grow.

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Question

How can I tell if a millipede is male or female?

Community Answer

Most of the time, the 7th set of legs will be notably different on males.

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Question

Can different species be housed together if they have the same substrate requirements?

Community Answer

Yes, they can be housed together.

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Question

Should I have more than one millipede so that it doesn't get lonely?

Community Answer

Yes, as most species of millipedes like to live in colonies.

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Question

Can I keep my millipede in a cup?

Community Answer

It is not recommended, as they can climb it and get out.

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Question

Could I put another species of milipede so that means i have 2 different species of milipede in one container

Erik Petrovich

Community Answer

No, keep different millipede species in separate enclosures, as they will fight with eachother

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Question

I have found a small millipede, I was wondering if I could use sand instead of soil?

Community Answer

No, millipedes require soil in their habitat.

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Question

How often does vivarium need to be cleaned?

Community Answer

Clean the vivarium once a week, because their food might become moldy, and/or they can bury it where you can't see it.

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Question

Where do I find millipedes?

Leah Bonetti

Community Answer

They love to live under rocks and in rotting wood.

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Question

I’m aware that I need to give the cuttlefish bones ground up, but should it be like a powder, or something similar to sand?

Anonymousfigure

Community Answer

You can ground up the cuttlefish bones and put a very small amount of water to make a paste, which would be great for them to eat.

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Question

How do you pick them up?

Anonymousfigure

Community Answer

Let it crawl into your hand. But if it is rolled up, you can pick it up, but do so lightly.

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Question

I found a millipede outside my house and I want to find out its gender. How do I do this?

Sosig

Top Answerer

Male millipedes will be missing a pair of legs at around 8 segments behind their head. This is where the genitals are. Females will have pairs of legs on all segments (unless they've been ripped or cut off).

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