Centipede feed frequency / weight gain (geting fat!)

[tmcv]

Ok... this issue about feed frequency generated some discussion in a related topic, and some guys had crucified me when I said that I fed some Scolopendra biweekly. They had put me even more in the cross when I said that centipedes as any other animal in captivity tends to obesity.

So... as I usually do every year, I pick the hole Centipedes colection and weight every single animal (about 50). I have a file for each animal with all the data abou feeding, molts etc etc.

With this routine, all the animals have gained weight or maintained the old weight. All the juveniles have gained weight.

Having an average for the species, and with physical examination, two or three animal are visibly fat (No, they are not in pre molt).

So... with this topic I want to ask something:
Does anyone have some weight control on your animals? If does, what's the feeding frequêncy and prey items (size) you offer?

Cheers

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

I think it's great to have the fattest centipede possible. The problem is they kill annoying prey even if they're not hungry and the rotten mess leads to pests, health problems, and then death.

 

[zonbonzovi]

I tend to over worry as all my centipedes are intended for mating. On average I feed biweekly(dubia about 3-4x the length of the head, more or less) as you do but casually monitor the thickness of the pleurites. Some animals seem to eat more often/are more active/retain less weight and their feeding is adjusted accordingly.

 

[tmcv]

Zon it seems great this biweekly feeding. I have notice that the fatiest pedes are much more lethragic than the thinner ones, and accept less food, sometimes refusing food for a month.

Even the youngers can stay fat and lethargic (is more difficult, but happens too).

Cockroaches seems the best too. We nerver offer vertebrates as food source here, and mealworms have a huge fat levels. Crickets are great too, but smaller!

 

[Galapoheros]

Hey tmcv, the very similar galapagoensis over here, one has babies and is still VERY fat looking! I can barely see her through the glass. Another was very fat, laid eggs, was still very fat looking, she ate the eggs, she didn't eat anymore, was still very fat looking when she went under again and I suspect she's with babies too but I can't see that one. Viridicornis and galapagoensis seem very efficient with food., maybe they don't do much between feeding.

 

[tmcv]

Hey tmcv, the very similar galapagoensis over here, one has babies and is still VERY fat looking! I can barely see her through the glass. Another was very fat, laid eggs, was still very fat looking, she ate the eggs, she didn't eat anymore, was still very fat looking when she went under again and I suspect she's with babies too but I can't see that one. Viridicornis and galapagoensis seem very efficient with food., maybe they don't do much between feeding.

Yes viridicornis are very "calm" animal between feeding, but are VERY agressive when manipulated!!! They don't do much exercices!!!

 

[zonbonzovi]

Hey tmcv, the very similar galapagoensis over here, one has babies and is still VERY fat looking! I can barely see her through the glass.

How far along are they?

 

[tmcv]

How far along are they?

Less than 3000 km away Zon. Galapagoensia is from galapagos island, and you know, animals stucked in ano island adquire some modifications! But these animals are very similar

 

[Galapoheros]

Hehe, Anyway, tmcv, is viridicornis native to the Sao Paulo area? Are there any seasonal changes there? I looked at the city using GoogleEarth, that place is huge.

 

[zonbonzovi]

Less than 3000 km away Zon. Galapagoensia is from galapagos island, and you know, animals stucked in ano island adquire some modifications! But these animals are very similar

Haha, I meant how developed are the young. Thanks, though, tmcv

 

[tmcv]

Haha, I meant how developed are the young. Thanks, though, tmcv

hahahai need to study more english!! And the question was even for me hahaha!! Sorry about that!!!!

Hehe, Anyway, tmcv, is viridicornis native to the Sao Paulo area? Are there any seasonal changes there? I looked at the city using GoogleEarth, that place is huge.

Hey Galapoheros, no viridicornis isn't from São Paulo (yes São Paulo is huge, the biggest city in Latin America, and have many seasonal changes!!!). All the viridicornis that we have are from Tocantins, in the North of Brazil. The weather is dry-tropical, wich means a rain season for 2 or 3 months, and a dry season in the rest of the year. The temperatures vary between 24°C e 28°C, but in the summer can rech 38°C to 40°C!

 

[zonbonzovi]

No worries, tmcv, you're English is better than many native speakers

 

[Galapoheros]

I'm going to spout out some far fetched speculation here, it's only a thought that crossed my mind. I considered it because of this old thread I remembered: http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/sho...gigantea-robusta-quot-cannibalistic-offspring... I have galapagoensis babies with the mother right now and they look very similar to the babies in the linked thread. They have the yellow head and white body. Their heads have the general shape as the babies in that thread also. My guess is that because viridicornis is so similar, maybe so closely related that the babies will have the same characteristics. So I'm wondering if the larger S. amer centipedes like galapagoensis, gigantea, viridicornis, etc. have the female sacrificed for the babies in common. I wonder if that's why the S. amer female pedes, in captivity, get so fat before going under, I wonder if it's the same in the wild. I doubt this speculation but, it's just something that crossed my mind as a possibility. If these babies eat the mother, I'll be sure to let you know. They look kind of thin so, it wouldn't surprise me if they do eat the mother, maybe it's natural. But, only time will tell so until then......

 

[Galapoheros]

Yes, they ate the mother, so it looks more to me like it is natural and is why the females(galapagoensis anyway) get so fat before they lay eggs, just instinct and natural to fatten up. So, maybe many specimens tend to be a little on the thick side because of this. If you get babies, it would be interesting to see if viridicornis babies eat the mother also.