Flatback Millipedes and care help

Rosekitten

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
2
About a month ago I moved some starmoss from my flytrap tray and placed the moss in the bottom of my iguana enclosure. The intent was just to add color and another source to hold humidity.I guess I had some hitch hikers as I now have at least 4 flatbacks in my enclosure as well. I can get more pictures if needed but I included one below.

I was curious if or what I should do with them... my curiosity was further perked as I went to repticon recently and there was someone trying to sell two of these guys for 12$ each.. I asked around as to why they cost so much and it's suppose to be because they have never been reproduced in captivity? I love these little guys so I'd love to attempt to make them a happy and healthy home.. but honest I have 0 idea on where to even start other them leaving them where they are as they have obviously been surviving there just fine. If as a bonus they reproduce.. the would be amazing as I love these guys but I'm against the idea of actively taking them from the wild..

Also I need to get a newer picture as a couple of them are starting to develop yellow spots in the middle of their back as well. I've been told they are Apheloria tigana...?
 

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Arthroverts

Arachnoking
Joined
Jul 11, 2016
Messages
2,468
Wow, that is one of the coolest hitchhiker I've heard of!
It is correct that getting polydesmids to make it through their life cycle or reproduce in captivity has been something of a conundrum. They do require quite a bit of rotting wood, and polydesmids in general prefer stable temperatures, but that is as much as I know in regards to this specific species. Perhaps some more members can chime in on this?

Hope this helps,

Arthroverts
 

Rosekitten

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 3, 2019
Messages
2
Hey anything is a huge help. They are lucky that I was already keeping springtails and blue powder isopods in there for the clean up crew so I already had leaf litter and rotting wood (plus scraps from my not so graceful iguana who likes to thrash his food around). The enclosure stays stable but I'm not sure if it's ideal or not.. I live in NC so they are use to the weather here .. it's humid and hot. The iguana enclosure at the lowest temp is around 70-75 for the cool spots and is misted throughout the day for humidity that stays in a rang of 85-95 (depends on if the iguana is shedding). Both humidity and temp drops during the evening.

Not saying this is ideal for them but that is what they have been living in at the present. The substrate in the enclosure is a mix of coco fiber and top soil with starmoss and pothos plants along the top mixed with the leaf litter and scattered hardwood chips.
 
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