Centipedes and humidity: two functions?

[BishopiMaster]

I purposely create a layer at the bottom. I keep S polymorpha which is very easy to keep and don't have tropical requirements.

Like exclusively polymorpha? But they are also underneath very humid rocks and things no?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Like exclusively polymorpha? But they are also underneath very humid rocks and things no?

That's why is important to offer lots of 'stuff' that can be used as hides by the centipede. A piece of cork bark is of best; they love those.

I wouldn't keep an adult S.polymorpha on bone dry substrate, no matter, even if they don't require the humidity needed for their Asian 'cousins'. Just a water dish and a part of substrate slightly moist :-s

 

[BishopiMaster]

That's why is important to offer lots of 'stuff' that can be used as hides by the centipede. A piece of cork bark is of best; they love those.

I wouldn't keep an adult S.polymorpha on bone dry substrate, no matter, even if they don't require the humidity needed for their Asian 'cousins'. Just a water dish and a part of substrate slightly moist :-s

The way i see it is all centipedes are composed of the same parts, desert centipedes are able to survive because they are able to find the moisture, i have heard of king baboon tarantulas burrowing several feet in the wild, and i am sure this is to find moisture.
Of course the polymorpha have to come to the surface to find food. Note that i am not knocking the empirical evidence amongst keepers as to the nuance amongst species, but i would like to know how far the appeal to nature goes.
I think it may be plausible that perhaps the reason for some of the "drier" centipedes is maybe more of a resistance to certain parasites/mites/whatever,
Has anyone observed that keeping desert centipedes/drier species resulting in a distinct higher death rate?

 

[RTTB]

The polymorpha I collect in Southern California I find in several distinctly different environments ranging from desert grassland rocky mountainous etc. I've found them in bone dry areas as well as very moist areas. My advice is use a bigger enclosure that offers different levels and zones of humididity versus dryness. They can then seek out what they like.

 

[BishopiMaster]

The polymorpha I collect in Southern California I find in several distinctly different environments ranging from desert grassland rocky mountainous etc. I've found them in bone dry areas as well as very moist areas. My advice is use a bigger enclosure that offers different levels and zones of humididity versus dryness. They can then seek out what they like.

But dont you think thats because underneath rocks, even in those dry areas, is very humid, and they are more sedentary to compensate? From what ive heard desert inverts tend to just sit in their hides until rain comes or something comes wandering in, so its still very humid

 

[RTTB]

I only have experience with S polymorpha and S heros so anything outside of them like tropical species I would leave to the experts. I just know what works for me and the aforementioned species.