How to safely handle giant centipedes?

[lbo1000]

I’m not asking about hands. I would like to know how y’all safely transport your giants into new enclosures. I’ve tried tongs with a smaller centipede, and even that didn’t work well.

 

[Sterls]

I don't keep centipedes but I reckon a trusty old catch cup (with a lid/ sturdy cardboard) should do the trick.

Don't ask me how you'd get it to chill out long enough to get it in the cup, but I'm sure it would work better than tongs.

 

[RoachCoach]

They aren't like spiders if that's what you are asking about. They are more capable like octopuses with less grip on smooth surfaces. If you are dealing with a seriously dangerous species or semi dangerous and you are new (Which most of us would shame into the absolute core of the earth) You can cool them down in the fridge to slow them down. This is risky if you are new and you just kill it with rapid shock temp changes. Most long bugs can be coaxed through a fabricated tube that has a closed end they are too stupid to get into. Then block the backend like a snake. Then put it into the new enclosure you have set up for it. Most pedes in this hobby are fairly dangerous and you didn't mention what possible nuclear cell we are dealing with.

 

[lbo1000]

They aren't like spiders if that's what you are asking about. They are more capable like octopuses with less grip on smooth surfaces. If you are dealing with a seriously dangerous species or semi dangerous and you are new (Which most of us would shame into the absolute core of the earth) You can cool them down in the fridge to slow them down. This is risky if you are new and you just kill it with rapid shock temp changes. Most long bugs can be coaxed through a fabricated tube that has a closed end they are too stupid to get into. Then block the backend like a snake. Then put it into the new enclosure you have set up for it. Most pedes in this hobby are fairly dangerous and you didn't mention what possible nuclear cell we are dealing with.

I have a Vietnamese. I’ve heard this species is very aggressive. My Vietnamese definitely fits that description. If anything moves in her enclosure, she kills it. This advice is very helpful.

 

[HeartBum]

Dave’s Little Beasties on YouTube has an excellent video showing how he deals with his pedes when it comes to shipping. Basically he coaxes them up against the side of the enclosure with the shipping box, and wiggles them in to place, then moves the container up out the enclosure and pops the lid on the other side with the enclosure separating the two.

 

[Dry Desert]

Dave’s Little Beasties on YouTube has an excellent video showing how he deals with his pedes when it comes to shipping. Basically he coaxes them up against the side of the enclosure with the shipping box, and wiggles them in to place, then moves the container up out the enclosure and pops the lid on the other side with the enclosure separating the two.

If the enclosure has adjustable heating, just lower the temp. overnight, then use a clear container so you can see what you'r doing, eg. cricket box or similar, once it's covered slide the lid under the container, and hey presto. Lowering the temp. will slow it down and won't be a problem overnight.

 

[basin79]

Just have the pede run into a tub. Job done. They're even easier to tub than a tarantula.

Of course if your pede can reach the top of their current enclosure or just for being extra careful you can put the old enclosure in the bath just in case. Once caught take the old enclosure out and put the new enclosure in and introduce the pede.

 

[Scoly]

Catch cups are a waste of time. The easiest way to move any centipede is to grab a twig, piece of bark or cloth with your forceps, get the pede to walk over it, then lift it in the air.

Then either dump that object in the new enclosure, or hold it above so the pede can feel some feature, which it will then crawl onto.

I've almost never had a pede drop off once it's in the air, but it's still better to do it all within or over a larger tub (not so easy for large pedes, but definitely do that for small pedes).

This is better than directly picking up with forceps as you don't need to worry about how tight you grip. It works for small and large alike, and makes pedes a hell of a lot easier to work with than tarantulas.

 

[TheHouseof21pairs]

I take all the decos out first then just put a clear 750 ml/1lt glass jar in the enclosure. It won’t notice the glass been so clear and it will walk strait into it in no time. Keep the lid in one hand and put it on as soon as the back legs are going in. Easy peasy

 

[Comatose]

Using a rigid piece of hose or better yet, piping that’s wide enough for the animal to crawl through but too thin for it to turn around is the best tool to move a centipede. PVC or similarly slippery plastic material is good; the length should be 1.5-2x the length of the centipede.

Place one end of the pipe as close to the centipedes head as possible, and then tap it’s terminal segment. Ideally you’re actually scooping it’s head into the mouth of the pipe as you scoot it’s butt forward. It should rush into the pipe.

From here hold the pipe with the animals terminal side points at a slight downward angle so that it’s it’s trying to move forward it’s just treading water, so to speak. When it’s time for it to enter its new setting, put it in tail first and close the enclosure immediately. If you’re putting it in a small container for containment or shipping, put it in head first and have plastic tongs at the ready.

Lastly, do all of this inside a larger container; ie if it’s in a ten gallon, put that inside a 30 gallon before you start.

 

[scolopendra277]

I used containers, especially test tubes with my centipedes. i would coax them in and block off the end with a cotton ball. then you just put the tube in a new enclosure and pull out the cotton.