-
While we have report items for many species, there are many more that we do not, currently, have report items for.
If you would like to leave a breeding/bite/sting report for a species that does not currently have a report item in the appropriate category, please request that one be created in this thread.
Once the item has been created, you will be provided with a link to post your report.
Centipede Scolopendra galapagoensis
- Added by Arachnoboards
- Create date
- Common Names
- Darwin's Goliath;
- Bite/Sting Date
- 5/9/2025
- Pain Level
- Excruciating pain.
- Circumstance
-
At around 11:00 AM, I poked at my Scolopendra galapagoensis’s legs. It instantly whipped around and bit my middle finger. The bite was fast and forceful, and I believe I received a full venom dump.
- Size
- 4-5 inches
- Damage
- The centipede bit down on my middle finger and held on. Venom spread through my hand quickly. Other fingers began to feel paralyzed, and swelling began within the hour. The bite remained localized, but pain and swelling radiated out to adjacent fingers and the palm.
- Symptoms
-
- 12:30 PM:
Pain peaked at around 8/10—the most intense pain I’ve ever felt. It was like severely jamming a finger, triple it, then press it into hot coals. - 1:00 PM:
Ibuprofen began to take effect. Pain dropped slightly to about 6–7/10. - 2:00 PM:
Keeping still brought the pain down to 4/10, but any movement spiked it back to 6–7/10. Swelling continued to spread. - 3:00 PM:
Pain held steady between 5–10/10 depending on activity. Swelling was visibly worse. - 4:00 PM:
Pain eased to around 3/10 at rest. - 5:00–6:00 PM:
Ibuprofen wore off. Pain climbed back to a steady 5/10. Swelling spread into the palm and neighboring fingers. - 9:45 PM:
Took an allergy medication containing an antihistamine. Within a short time, the pain nearly disappeared and I was able to fall asleep.
- 12:30 PM:
- Medical Attention
- None
- Lingering effects
-
Next morning*
• Pain was completely gone.
• Swelling had gone down significantly but remained around the bite area.
• The affected finger felt numb and had that “pins and needles” sensation, like when a limb falls asleep.
• I was able to make a full fist again.
Was a very painful experience would not recommend.
Attachments
- Bite/Sting Date
- August 27, 2024
- Pain Level
- Excruciating pain., I wished I was dead.
- Circumstance
-
Mistook my hand for food
- Size
- 6 inches
- Damage
- Pain, allergic reaction, swelling, rash, redness
- Symptoms
-
- swelling, pain, difficulty sleeping, allergic reaction
- Medical Attention
- did not receive
- Lingering effects
- - none
Got bit during average maintenance where I was trying to remove a water bowl. I was tired and decided to use my hand and the pede latched onto my ring finger. He definitely got some good bites in and I managed to remove him by spraying him with water. Afterwards, I felt the pain immediately. It slowly spread up to my elbow area and was intense. It felt like my hand was filled with red hot nails and everytime I moved, I felt it. It was a throbbing, almost ridiculous pain that I hope I never experience again. I could not sleep the first night because of how bad it hurt, and the swelling began on the second day. It got to the point where i could not properly make a fist(see picture) and it stayed like that for 2 weeks. The pain at no point ever really subsided, but peaked at evening-nighttime. Took benadryl and tylenol multiple times but all it did was reduce the itching and somewhat reduce the swelling. After the first week, I had an allergic reaction and I would argue was just as bad. The pain was good but instead I had insane swelling and itching. I was losing sleep not to pain but to how much it itched. Took benadryl, did absolutely nothing. Tried some topical anti-itching ointments, nothing. After about another week it finally began to decrease in swelling. I used to regularly handle pedes before this but have stopped after this event. I got rid of my galapagoensis orange male and do not handle my pedes. I think that people severely underestimate the pain of the venom. I talked with some other advanced pede keepers and breeders(Nyan and Morbidslayer) and they shared similar stories of bites by SA giants being comparable to those of larger Asian species. Regardless, I learned my lesson and no longer work with these animals, and I strongly urge anyone else to do the same. Handling something that does regularly bite and is venomous is stupid, and i unfortunately learned the hard way.
Attachments
3 members found this helpful.
- Bite/Sting Date
- 3/2/2022
- Pain Level
- Minor pain.
- Circumstance
-
Was about to call it a night, but I heard some rustling in one of my containers so I snuck away to check. My S. Galap was wondering the enclosure, I had suspected it being in premolt due to its lethargicness and slight puffiness of the exoskeleton. Anyhow, got him out and was handling and giving him the light massage as usual. Towards the end, he was climbing up my hand and bit down. I was a bit surprised, but not too much.
Thoughts: I think it wasn't an act of aggression but more like the pede trying to get a grip as it was pulling itself up my arm. That's one thing with centipedes, they tend to use those fangs in different manners, not simply for getting prey, but for holding onto stuff to pull themselves up or testing stuff out, which is why handling them, you need to be more alert. One tip to handling is never block a pede that's trying to get out. Like if you cup your hand over one, always leave a way for them to sneak out, otherwise they'll use their fangs. These are the nicest centipedes ever, I was careless. It obviously didn't inject much venom and didn't try hard to really bite down, which made me suspect that it was just trying to get a grip.
- Size
- 8"
- Damage
- 2 small puncture marks (Picture Attached)
- Symptoms
-
Pin prick sting, slight aching working its way up my arm.
- Medical Attention
- None needed
- Lingering effects
- Two light puncture wounds that sting for the next three days, gradually disappearing. Felt like splinter lodge in skin.
Just a heads up, I'm a crazy fast healer, I've had cuts that sealed itself within seconds. Anyhow, got two puncture wounds, very little blood. The centipede didn't apply too much force into the bite. I noted some aching working its way up my hand to my arm and slight pressure on my chest but that chest pressure might just be the normal me. It felt like a cactus pin prick and it stings a bit washing my hand this morning. Basically, I got bit, thought little of it, laughed it off and went to sleep like the barbarian that I am. If anything, the slight pain intrigued me. The bite spot still kinda stings a bit, like a splinter that went too deep and needs to be pulled out.
Bee sting pain 4/10
Pain of this: 2/10 hence my thought above.
Bee sting pain 4/10
Pain of this: 2/10 hence my thought above.
Attachments
One member found this helpful.