Malting or dying giant African millipede

[Lucysmiffy]

Hello we bought our giant African millipede around 4 weeks ago and she was really active. Over the past 4 or 5 days I've noticed she's barely moved, she's not curled up and laying uncovered occasionally moving her legs. I've googled and called the shop we've bought her from and the general opinion is that she's either dying or malting. The problem is if she's malting I've read it can take days, even weeks, and that she wont be able to move her legs, so how do we know whether she's died or malting? Any advice would be really appreciated please.

 

[REEFSPIDER]

Myriapods typically burrow to molt, that being said there is little more I can say otherwise regarding your specimen. What are your parameters in the enclosure like? Details of the setup and a picture would help. Cheers

 

[Lucysmiffy]

Myriapods typically burrow to molt, that being said there is little more I can say otherwise regarding your specimen. What are your parameters in the enclosure like? Details of the setup and a picture would help. Cheers

Myriapods typically burrow to molt, that being said there is little more I can say otherwise regarding your specimen. What are your parameters in the enclosure like? Details of the setup and a picture would help. Cheers

Hi this morning she is in the same position and her legs are still moving. Her coat seems to have a grey tinge in places. We don't have a heat mat, the store said it wasn't necessary but I'm also finding conflict advice on that

 

[REEFSPIDER]

It appears to be ready to molt, the lightened color is the old exoskeleton separating from the new underneath, all the leg movements are also relatable to a imminent molt as the pede is freeing itself from its old skin in preparation to molt. How deep is the substrate? This species is usually best kept on at least it’s body length in substrate depth if not more to allow proper burrowing. As of right now I would leave it alone and observe it and provide stable (not panicked or exaggerated) humidity.

 

[Lucysmiffy]

It appears to be ready to molt, the lightened color is the old exoskeleton separating from the new underneath, all the leg movements are also relatable to a imminent molt as the pede is freeing itself from its old skin in preparation to molt. How deep is the substrate? This species is usually best kept on at least it’s body length in substrate depth if not more to allow proper burrowing. As of right now I would leave it alone and observe it and provide stable (not panicked or exaggerated) humidity.

Thank you we will leave her in peace and hope that's what's going on

 

[BobBarley]

This enclosure looks inadequate from what I can see. Is that coco fiber for substrate? These millipedes (and most if not all millipedes) are detritivores that feed mainly on the substrate itself. Coco fiber offers nothing for them nutritionally. They need moist, rotten hardwood and dead hardwood leaves. I see that you have leaves in there, but leaves by themselves is not enough.

Many pet stores, care sheets, etc., will claim that they can live in straight cocofiber with some leaves, fruits, and veggies. They'll live for a few months at most in those conditions.

Unfortunately, she looks like she is dying from lack of moisture, lack of correct substrate, or both. Millipedes, especially ones of that size, very rarely molt on the surface.

 

[REEFSPIDER]

This enclosure looks inadequate from what I can see. Is that coco fiber for substrate? These millipedes (and most if not all millipedes) are detritivores that feed mainly on the substrate itself. Coco fiber offers nothing for them nutritionally. They need moist, rotten hardwood and dead hardwood leaves. I see that you have leaves in there, but leaves by themselves is not enough.

Many pet stores, care sheets, etc., will claim that they can live in straight cocofiber with some leaves, fruits, and veggies. They'll live for a few months at most in those conditions.

Unfortunately, she looks like she is dying from lack of moisture, lack of correct substrate, or both. Millipedes, especially ones of that size, very rarely molt on the surface.

I have seen it rarely where they molt above ground but agree with you