Does my S. subspinipes need a larger enclosure?

[EightLeggedFrea]

I just bought an 8" adult Scolopendra subspinipes (bought from the Boards, sold as a Vietnamese orange-leg centipede). My second pede, after my 5" female Chinese redhead (who gave birth). I have it in a 10-gallon aquarium with 2+" of moist coconut fiber. I got it in the mail this morning and it's still very active and walks around and digs all over the place. Should I use more substrate in a deeper enclosure (I don't want the pede to be able to reach the top of the cage for obvious reasons) or will it be just fine? It also had a cave as a hiding place, inside of which I sort of made a rounded "crater" in the substrate.

 

[cheetah13mo]

The math you gave tells me that it will grow a little bigger and it will soon be able to reach the top sides. I have two orange legs and they are both at the 9 and 10 inch range. I use these 19 qrt rubber maid containers for all of my adult peds and I've not had any problems. They are taller than a standard 10 gal but not by much.

Those are 12 inch forceps for some comparison.

I like these types of containers better than glass tanks in part because it's easier for me to control the humidity. Just an idea but I think you might have it escape if you stick with the 10 gallon without an iron clad type of lid.

 

[swat_wilson]

I think it will be much better for both your pede and you to get a taller tank :} it will grow much longer in the near future

and Vietnamese centipede is good at jumping at escaping from cage :razz:

 

[EightLeggedFrea]

It's already burrowed and is now nowhere to be seen. But I will find a Rubbermaid box of appropriate size tomorrow and get it all fixed up.

BTW do they REALLY grow longer when housed in larger cages? Sweet!

 

[cheetah13mo]

BTW do they REALLY grow longer when housed in larger cages? Sweet!

No, they have a programmed length they grow at that is defined by genetics. If the enlosure is too small, just like with a T, you could have some molting problems but it's not near as problematic as it would be for a T.