Millipede Care Sheet

Millipede Care Sheet

Millipede Care Sheet – This care sheet contains recommendations from our shop assistants.

Housing

Millipedes can be housed in a variety of different enclosures; however, we recommend keeping them in plastic terrariums. They will need soil substrate, and the terrarium should have high humidity. You should provide your millipede with places to hide this can be done by using logs, bark, or hides. Millipedes can grow between 4 – 11 inches in length and live for up to 3 years.

Millipedes are friendly animals and can be housed with other millipedes of the same species. Do not house other species together. The enclosure should be kept between 21 – 23c using a heat mat, controlled by a thermostat.

Do not be alarmed if you notice mites within your millipede’s enclosure. This is completely normal as millipedes and mites have a symbiotic relationship.

Diet

Millipedes should be fed a diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, such as kale and bananas. Millipedes have weak mouths and can not bite hard foods, therefore everything must be sliced or peeled before being offered to your millipede. Cuttlebone is a great way to get calcium into your millipede’s diet. They also eat dead leaves.

Your millipede should be fed daily. Discarding any uneaten foods each morning. Millipedes are nocturnal animals and therefore will feed at night. A shallow water dish should be available to your millipede with chlorine-free water. Place small rocks in the water to stop your millipede from drowning.

Handling

Millipedes are generally easy to handle. Due to the weak mouth of a millipede, they are unable to bite. When threatened a millipede may curl into a tight spiral, some millipedes secrete a foul-smelling and tasting fluid that is meant to repel predators.

Always wash your hands before and after handling your millipede.

For any further information or advice please feel free to message us on Facebook or contact the store on 01902 494860