Chewing through plastic

[JDS123]

i was told back in the day that you didn't want to use plastic containers for large centipedes because they will chew through the plastic! Soooooooo? BS or no?

 

[chanda]

They can chew through thin, flexible plastic (like a plastic bag). They can also chew through plastic or fabric mesh or lightweight screening. But they can't chew through heavy plastic. They also can't chew through it if it is too rigid or solid to get their jaws into. I see large centipedes at shows or pet stores in the relatively thin plastic of large deli-type cups all the time, and nobody seems to worry about them chewing through the containers. It sounds like a myth to me.

 

[RTTB]

I do believe it's the stuff of myth. Thin plastic yes but thick plastic no.

 

[LawnShrimp]

I keep all my centipedes in plastic containers and deli cups for the smaller ones, and I've never witnessed chewing. Centipede 'fangs' are actually modified legs and only used for injecting venom, holding on to prey, and occasionally climbing. The real mandibles are surprisingly small, located underneath the centipede's head and are covered by half-moon shaped 'lips', and so I doubt if chewing on anything but prey is possible for a centipede.

 

[JDS123]

I keep all my centipedes in plastic containers and deli cups for the smaller ones, and I've never witnessed chewing. Centipede 'fangs' are actually modified legs and only used for injecting venom, holding on to prey, and occasionally climbing. The real mandibles are surprisingly small, located underneath the centipede's head and are covered by half-moon shaped 'lips', and so I doubt if chewing on anything but prey is possible for a centipede.

Yeah I think it was like 15 years ago at reptile depot off the PCH in CA. They had a giant one and said no plastic, it would gnaw its way out if it wanted.

That's all I remember lol.

Dang I'm old.