Millipede Color Morphs

[kuchipatchis]

i spend a lot of time on sites like inaturalist, and to a lesser extent, browse bugguide, and i see a lot of interesting millipede color morphs, and im wondering how available these are in the pet trade. im absolutely not looking to buy right now, im just curious.

for example, im in LOVE with this color of ivory millipede, ive seen multiple pictures of them in the wild, they seem to not be uncommon in central florida
https://bugguide.net/node/view/909322

i also think this color of what i believe to be narceus gordanus is really cute, but its not like any ive ever seen in the pet trade but i found multiple on inaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18288269
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12873247
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15116947
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17325322

i think i need to just wander the woods in central florida some time because i love the millipedes there lol

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

There are some threads about various color forms of Narceus americanus and Chicobolus that people have acquired or bred. The pure black ivory is interesting in the immatures are striped. The only "pet trade" cultivar is an albino form of N. americanus (stock origin circa 2002).

 

[kuchipatchis]

heres some more of these orange ivory millipedes... i love them
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/3441478
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/12961180
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/175300
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/17880561 (!!!)

i have found some places to get the yellow banded narceus gordanus now but ive NEVER seen the orange ivories, and that last one is the BEST

 

[ErinM31]

I’ve never seen orange-banded Ivories (Chicobolus spinigerus) like that — they are beautiful! You can regularly find the standard and ebony for sale. Ones that have more pink seem to be a developmental stage of the standard morph as I’ve always seen them lose this color with maturity.

One can readily find different color morphs of Orthoporus ornatus (gold, copper-orange and dark brown, maybe more), Narceus gordanus (gray and yellow and perhaps gold as well) and N. americanus (dark with bands of red, brown or yellow; gold with bands of pink or brown; albino) although availability does seem partly seasonal. I think @mickiem breeds and sells many of the morphs I’ve listed above and more besides.

 

[Marika]

I wish I could get an albino N. americanus, they are beautiful.

 

[ErinM31]

I wish I could get an albino N. americanus, they are beautiful.

They are available from time to time, especially from @Elytra and Antenna, who started the line. They really are beautiful millipedes!

 

[Marika]

They are available from time to time, especially from @Elytra and Antenna, who started the line. They really are beautiful millipedes!

The problem is that I live in Finland. I haven't seen anyone selling them in Europe.

 

[ErinM31]

The problem is that I live in Finland. I haven't seen anyone selling them in Europe.

Oh, sorry! I should have checked your location! Now I recall you had posted photos of a communal tank with many species we don’t have here, including different pill millipedes. If only it were possible to arrange a trade!

 

[Marika]

Oh, sorry! I should have checked your location! Now I recall you had posted photos of a communal tank with many species we don’t have here, including different pill millipedes. If only it were possible to arrange a trade!

No worries Yeah, it would be great if trading was possible. I once had a regular N. americanus, an adult male, who unfortunately didn't live for very long. It's a nice species.

 

[davehuth]

Florida seems to have some very interesting regional color morphs of Narceus. Here are a couple curled up together, on is a sort of rosy tan color, and the other was called "honey and chocolate" by the fellow who traded it to me

 

[Uncle Chudd]

I've actually got an orange(ish) one myself! It started out white, then slowly turned salmon, and now it's a pretty noticeable orange. Not as intense as the ones in the pictures, but still really cool.