Cooler Climates/Mobility

[mach1bailey]

Im looking for a Millipede (medium to large size) I plan on getting a suitable tank, heating pad, etc. i am looking for a species that fits the following criteria: can temporarily be in a cooler climate, can be bred, i can move around on my travels possibly.

 

[LawnShrimp]

By 'cooler climate' what do you mean? Most millipedes are fine around 65F to 75F, none of them love heat or cold. Unless you are also very uncomfortable, any room temperature is probably fine for most species and heat mats can cook them if left on too long.
Millipedes don't like being moved around, motion often can disrupt a molt leading to defects or death. The container you keep them in is also necessarily quite deep and wide, especially for large species, so moving them might be difficult.

Your best choice for breeding is Narceus americanus or Chicobolus spinigerus. When provided with wood, leaves, and sufficient burrowing room, both species can be quite prolific. Narceus don't always breed as quickly or as prolifically as Chicobolus, but most of the northern Narceus forms handle cold quite well.

 

[mach1bailey]

By 'cooler climate' what do you mean? Most millipedes are fine around 65F to 75F, none of them love heat or cold. Unless you are also very uncomfortable, any room temperature is probably fine for most species and heat mats can cook them if left on too long.
Millipedes don't like being moved around, motion often can disrupt a molt leading to defects or death. The container you keep them in is also necessarily quite deep and wide, especially for large species, so moving them might be difficult.

Your best choice for breeding is Narceus americanus or Chicobolus spinigerus. When provided with wood, leaves, and sufficient burrowing room, both species can be quite prolific. Narceus don't always breed as quickly or as prolifically as Chicobolus, but most of the northern Narceus forms handle cold quite well.

By 'cooler climate' what do you mean? Most millipedes are fine around 65F to 75F, none of them love heat or cold. Unless you are also very uncomfortable, any room temperature is probably fine for most species and heat mats can cook them if left on too long.
Millipedes don't like being moved around, motion often can disrupt a molt leading to defects or death. The container you keep them in is also necessarily quite deep and wide, especially for large species, so moving them might be difficult.

Your best choice for breeding is Narceus americanus or Chicobolus spinigerus. When provided with wood, leaves, and sufficient burrowing room, both species can be quite prolific. Narceus don't always breed as quickly or as prolifically as Chicobolus, but most of the northern Narceus forms handle cold quite well.

Thanks man super helpful! Im new to this whole deal and dont know a whole lot about it. I was originally looking into snakes but i dont really want all of the hassle with lamps etc. i am looking for something i could handle frequently or just have to kinda chill around outside of an enclosure. Any ideas?

 

[LawnShrimp]

Thanks man super helpful! Im new to this whole deal and dont know a whole lot about it. I was originally looking into snakes but i dont really want all of the hassle with lamps etc. i am looking for something i could handle frequently or just have to kinda chill around outside of an enclosure. Any ideas?

Millipedes don't like going out of their enclosure. Depending on how defensive yours are, millipedes often release their defense chemicals or refuse to uncurl when taken from their safe, dark, humid home. They dry out easily and hate light, so even when they are active when being handled, they don't stop moving as they try to find their way back underground. I don't recommend taking millipedes out of their enclosure for more than a few minutes at a time, it is quite stressful to them.

Most of the time they will be underneath the substrate, possibly up to months at a time. Even when you have lots of millis in a tank (as I do) the entire population can decide to go underground to molt, lay eggs, or whatever millipedes do down there. Digging is also a terrible idea as millipedes will molt wherever they want to in the substrate and digging more than often leads to molting millis getting fatally injured.

The only available milli that likes dry air (or tolerates it for longer) and therefore might be more tolerant of handling is Orthoporus. These are desert millipedes, easy to care for, very large-sized, and live for a long time. Unfortunately, they prefer warm temperatures and never breed in captivity, so they don't seem like a good species for you. Chicobolus spinigerius (Ivory Millipedes) are also more tolerant of handling as they are naturally very active and don't mind a few more minutes of dry air, but still prefer minimal disturbances and humidity.