help, bumblebee millipede sick

[Redbarren]

so I've had two Bumble bee millipedes for about a month now, but I was forced to move them in a different container. now one of them is very limp and lethargic. what scared me the most was that when I picked it up it couldn't stay up right, rolled on it's back and started waving it's legs in the air and it's antenna were flat against it's head not moving.

 

[mickiem]

That doesn't sound good. The best thing to do is not move or touch him. When a millipede is limp it doesn't usually recover. I don't think changing enclosures would cause this, however. Best of luck - hope it works out better.

 

[Redbarren]

so it's not very limp, more like not very flexible, is it possible that It's shedding on the surface? I know that's a stretch, but I'm trying to figure it out.

update: It just died, and I have no idea how the other one is, should I be worried about it? frankly I'd like to know what killed it, so that I won't do that again.

 

[mickiem]

There aren't many diseases that pass between them. It could have been something in the enclosure/ substrate. Has anyone dropped it? That's usually a death sentence. Sometimes, we just obtain them near the end of their life and there's nothing you can do. I hope you can figure it out. Have you read the care sheet pinned at the front of this forum? Read through that and see if it raises any questions. Unfortunately, there is a lot of bad information out there. But that care sheet is something you can trust!

 

[mickiem]

And Yes, millipedes sometimes molt on the surface. It is more common for some species than others. Not so common for Bumbles.

 

[Salmonsaladsandwich]

A bunch of my Narceus molted on the surface recently. Some of them now have tiny little footprints in their exoskeletons from being trampled by others.

 

[mickiem]

A bunch of my Narceus molted on the surface recently. Some of them now have tiny little footprints in their exoskeletons from being trampled by others.

That's kinda precious!

 

[Aquarimax]

so I've had two Bumble bee millipedes for about a month now, but I was forced to move them in a different container. now one of them is very limp and lethargic. what scared me the most was that when I picked it up it couldn't stay up right, rolled on it's back and started waving it's legs in the air and it's antenna were flat against it's head not moving.

What is the temperature in your enclosure?
Bumblebees typically like it above 72 F.

 

[Redbarren]

What is the temperature in your enclosure?
Bumblebees typically like it above 72 F.

mid to low 80's

 

[mickiem]

mid to low 80's

That may be too high. Could you lower it and see if that makes a difference?

 

[Redbarren]

if they like it

That may be too high. Could you lower it and see if that makes a difference?

lower, than how do they flourish in Florida? unfortunately, I really can't lower it. it mostly holds steady at 82 degrees but dips lower sometimes.

 

[mickiem]

if they like it

lower, than how do they flourish in Florida? unfortunately, I really can't lower it. it mostly holds steady at 82 degrees but dips lower sometimes.

Under a forest canopy it is cooler. And when they burrow, it is cooler still. I think 82° is the high end; if you can keep it from going over, the bumbles will thank you.

 

[Redbarren]

so I lowered to temp to somewhere between 78 and 75, I don't want to go any lower because then I'd be worried about my dessert millipedes.

 

[mickiem]

that should be fine for all of them!