Breeding Scarlet and Bumblebee millipedes.

[isopodgeek]

I was lucky enough to find out that my local exotic pet store got in some Scarlet and Bumblebee Millipedes( didn’t have to pay any shipping fees ). The only bad part is that the millipedes were a little pricey. There also was only 3 Scarlets and 2 Bumblebees left. Anyways, after buying all the millipedes in the store, I went home with five happy millipedes. I got home and sexed them right away. I found out that I had 1 male and 2 female Scarlets which is awsome. The bad news is that both Bumblebees were female.

I plan on breeding and selling these millipedes. I read that the container needs to be a wide as the millipede and two time as long and deep as the millipede.This would mean a 15x3x6 inch container( which I have setup and ready). As always, I have questions.

1. Can I put 3 Scarlets in an 8 ounce deli cup? My theory is that they will be able to find each other easier vs in a 6 quart container.
2. One Bumblebee has pink legs while the other has grey legs. What does this mean in terms of gender?
3. How long until I start seeing baby millipedes?
4 I would like to buy a few more of each millipede( 3-5). Where is a good place to purchase them that currently has them in stock?

 

[goliathusdavid]

So glad you were able to get some USA natives! (Well naturalized actually but they're here now)
1. I would go for the larger. When it comes to habitats bigger is almost always better. I recently had bumblebee babies with 8 adults in a 16 qt container. They will find each other.
2. Don't think that coloration has anything to do with sex as bumblebees are not sexually dimorphic. I'm also gonna be honest I am AWFUL at sexing millipedes.
3. There's a lot of factors to this question, as it is quite possible they have not all reached maturity. Therefore, I can't really say. Just keep things moist, and have a good substrate, and they'll show up eventually.
4. Shipping costs are pretty high but his quality of service is incredible so I always recommend Peter at Bugs In Cyberspace. Also have heard great things about Orin. But you can get bumblebees and scarlets from a lot of different places.
Congratulations on your new arrivals!

 

[isopodgeek]

So glad you were able to get some USA natives! (Well naturalized actually but they're here now)
1. I would go for the larger. When it comes to habitats bigger is almost always better. I recently had bumblebee babies with 8 adults in a 16 qt container. They will find each other.
2. Don't think that coloration has anything to do with sex as bumblebees are not sexually dimorphic. I'm also gonna be honest I am AWFUL at sexing millipedes.
3. There's a lot of factors to this question, as it is quite possible they have not all reached maturity. Therefore, I can't really say. Just keep things moist, and have a good substrate, and they'll show up eventually.
4. Shipping costs are pretty high but his quality of service is incredible so I always recommend Peter at Bugs In Cyberspace. Also have heard great things about Orin. But you can get bumblebees and scarlets from a lot of different places.
Congratulations on your new arrivals!

Thank you so much for the quick response.