I Made a HUGE Mistake!

[coopersbugs]

Hey everyone. About two weeks ago I starting caring for three millipedes. Today I took a little dig through the enclosure; one of my millipedes had been immobile for a while and I wanted to uncover it slightly to I could get my nose in there and see if it was alive based on smell. The thing is, that millipede was just fine — but the problem is that in this process I accidentally scooped up one of my millis with some of the coco husk.

The millipede was pretty tightly curled/deeply buried and I’m absolutely petrified that I’ve just interrupted a molt, as it had been a while since I had seen this particular ‘pede... So I guess my question is, did I just sign my baby’s death certificate? The millipede is alive, but I’ve heard a thousand times not to disturb them during a molt. Is my little critter gonna make it? I don’t think the odds are very good based on what I’ve read...

 

[chanda]

Millipedes spend a great deal of time burrowing under their substrate. This is their natural behavior. It is also a natural behavior for them to curl defensively when disturbed. While it is impossible to say for sure whether your millipede might have been preparing to molt, it is at least equally possible that the millipede in question was just hanging out underground - as millipedes will do - and curled up when you disturbed it by digging it out.

As long as the millipede was not actively molting (exoskeleton had split and was starting to come loose) - and you did not otherwise injure the millipede while digging - then it should be fine.

 

[1000legs]

Ive done this before and had the same worry but they eventually came to the surface okay, I wouldn't worry too much about it personally.

 

[velvetundergrowth]

Not sure about "regular" millis but I accidentally disturbed a whole bunch of buried pill millipedes a while ago, some of which were molting, and they eventually emerged in good shape. I think if you put them back as they were and leave them in peace for a good long while you should be ok, but then again I am no Millipede expert.

 

[Catherine31]

Hey everyone. About two weeks ago I starting caring for three millipedes. Today I took a little dig through the enclosure; one of my millipedes had been immobile for a while and I wanted to uncover it slightly to I could get my nose in there and see if it was alive based on smell. The thing is, that millipede was just fine — but the problem is that in this process I accidentally scooped up one of my millis with some of the coco husk.

The millipede was pretty tightly curled/deeply buried and I’m absolutely petrified that I’ve just interrupted a molt, as it had been a while since I had seen this particular ‘pede... So I guess my question is, did I just sign my baby’s death certificate? The millipede is alive, but I’ve heard a thousand times not to disturb them during a molt. Is my little critter gonna make it? I don’t think the odds are very good based on what I’ve read...

 

[Catherine31]

I used to be like that as well, scared I was interrupting a molt. But they were always okay. Mine are pretty used to being handled by my daughter and I. I have a few that like to stay on top of the substrate, but if there are none and I want my Millipede fix, I just gently search. If I come across one that is curled up I just wait and sometimes they will uncurl- then I pick it up. If it doesn’t uncurl, I gently put some substrate back over it. Keep us updated!