Co-existance in the centipede tank?

[J Morningstar]

I attach this bad pic so at least you won't thin I am lying when I ask about this. Dose any one else have other "?bugs"living with their centipede?
The large black beatle is a super worm all grown up. Now comes the really weird part. My centipede likes to get his legs and back groomed by this beatle! Now, I thought if he'd eat super worms the adult would be just as tasty, but no. Not only that the beatle will aggitate the centipede for a few seconds, the centipede will sort of strike and grip the beatle then seem to clean himself with whatever the beatle has on/ or exudes from his body.
The other bug is a regular grey isopod. They must exist together in nature because the isopod some times sleeps directly under my centipede. Even in a feeding frenzy the centipede is careful not to hurt this one. It is like my centipede has a pet!
Any one with feed back would be cool!

 

[Steven]

hehehehe
nice,... never heard or read something like that,....
very intresting topic,.... who says that centipedes are always the mean evil creatures there labeled with?
it shows a more friendly site of the vicious ones

thanx for sharing this

 

[Mendi]

Very interesting... I might have to try getting SHC a "grey isopod" pet and tank cleaner. I kinda feel that the beetle is living on borrowed time though

 

[J Morningstar]

"Borowed time?" I'd say he's got mor lives than a old womans house full of cats. BUT... seriously I have seen this centipede rip crickets to little shreds, munch down a superworm like a subway sandwich and never does he hurt these beatles. The only thing I don't like is I have seen these beatles eat the husk off a coconut and I don't want them to someday bite the soft tissue on the sides of the 'pede. Although I have only seen this happen in the "aggitation" phase of their relationship with no hemolymph or mark from the bite. Just makes the centipede pay attention to him.
As for the isopods, I don't think they taste good or something because he has never been in ANY danger as far as I can see. I think of him as the centipedes dog or pet. their usually close together and seem perfectly happy.
Please more info everyone.... This forum has made me sooo happy to have so many people to share and talk with. Thank you all.

 

[Wade]

Many darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae), including Zoophobas (superworms), are capable of of releasing strong offensive oders when attacked. This doesn't deter all predators, but obviously it works on centipedes, or at least that one!

Wade

 

[danread]

Yup, my pedes wont eat them either. If you pick up those zoophoba they release a smell thats similar to TCP. Obviously pedes dohnt like it at all.

Dan.

 

[J Morningstar]

Do you guys think that this compound they (the beatles) give off might have a acidic or other protective quality the cenipede may be using for protection or grooming? Like I said, he grabs the bug and seems to squeeze him a little and than aggressivly grooms himself with the parts of his body theat came in contact with the beatle. Do you think the beatle or its grubs would eat millipede eggs?

 

[Wade]

My suspiscion is that it grabs the beetle as if it were prey, and then releases once it gets a tast of the chemical. The grooming is probably reflects the pede's desire to get the stuff off of it. At least that would be my guess.

Apparently the grubs (the superworms) do not secrete the chemicals so most predatory inverts are happy to eat them. As with any prey insect, the primary risk would be when the centipede molts.

Wade

 

[Tzatch]

Maybe he is just lonely and needs a friend.;P