Millipede housing pics

[Hornets inverts]

Anyone got pics of their millipede housing they can share?

 

[titus]

I don't have any pictures any more, but I can tell you that the best housing is just a rubber made filled with soil and dry leaves. You can make a nice tank, but you will rarely see a millipede out and about unless you have a good number in the tank or a small tank for the size of the ped. The most important thing is substrate depth make it at least 4-6".

 

[Nomadinexile]

I broke the camera taking pictures of scorpions outside. But I will describe, hope it helps.

I use 3 parts forest duff underneath oak trees. This looks like soil.
2 parts oak leaves. 2 parts shredded rotting oak wood.
1 part sand mixed with crushed oyster shells
1 part crushed egg shells

Mix and lay 6"+ deep. Then I add tree branches with lichens, and some moss.

almost forgot, add wood lice.

 

[Elytra and Antenna]

... add wood lice.

Just with older millipedes being kept as pets, not with eggs or small immatures.

 

[Nomadinexile]

Just with older millipedes being kept as pets, not with eggs or small immatures.

Thanks for the advice! Why not? Will eggs and immatures be eaten?

 

[Malhavoc's]

Woodlice on occasion will eat anything "squishy" Including eggs, and freshly molted specimens afaik. not to mention woodlice are direct competition for the millies as they both eat the same things...no?

 

[Nomadinexile]

Woodlice on occasion will eat anything "squishy" Including eggs, and freshly molted specimens afaik. not to mention woodlice are direct competition for the millies as they both eat the same things...no?

That makes sense. Except the eating the same part part. They do eat the same things, but if you have a large terrarium, there should be plenty for everyone right? Plus, the isos will stay close to the surface, where as the millies use all of the substrate. But I guess if the terrarium isn't large enough, or substrate deep enough, or changed out enough, then I guess you are right. Thanks Malhavoc!

Oh, that would be sad if they ate the eggs. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[Lucas339]

 

[Hornets inverts]

cheers guys, i've been keeping mine in a 3ft tank, about 20cm of coco peat on the bottom which is covered by about 10cm of soil from the milli's natural habitat. A couple pieces of wood for them to hide under and a good layer of leaf litter and they are loving it. Being in aust cant get some of the large spectacular species you guys do but still a few interesting ones here. 1 thing i havent had much luck getting mosses and lichens to grow in the tank, what can i do to get some started? I have a UV light on the tank which probably needs replacing and a home made mesh lid. Any tips on how to get something growing?

 

[Nomadinexile]

Bring it in from the outdoors. You can also egg wash, but It takes a long time, and you still need it to be seeded (spored?). I would get rid of the coco though, it's nutrient deficient. They eat the substrate, and if it's a majority coco they will slowly starve. Also, try to add some calcium for their exoskeleton, (hence the egg shells). Good luck!

 

[Hornets inverts]

i just used to coco for a filler to raise the substrate level a bit, the top 10-15cm of sub is 100% rainforest soil so dont think them eating the coco will be much of an issue. I've put live moss in the tank but it hasnt done well at all, any tips for getting it to grow? just doesnt seem to like me

 

[Nomadinexile]

I've only read a little online. I've only recently begun to use mosses, so I can't claim special knowledge. I'm sorry, I wish I knew more, I really do...
I just put it in, and mist it.

 

[H. laoticus]

i just used to coco for a filler to raise the substrate level a bit, the top 10-15cm of sub is 100% rainforest soil so dont think them eating the coco will be much of an issue. I've put live moss in the tank but it hasnt done well at all, any tips for getting it to grow? just doesnt seem to like me

I've read a little on this and they require a certain pH in the water among others. I've had little luck growing them as well.

 

[Nomadinexile]

After looking in a book I have (on terrariums), It says they are very simple plants without a capilary system, so they have to be misted daily, most however will recover from drying out. I would recommend bottled spring water for misting, as distilled has no nutrients, and your tap water probably has chemicals in it that will be hard to deal with in such a simple plant. good luck!

 

[Hornets inverts]

cheers guys, might try that, also from looking at various mosses yesterday in the rainforest they seem to prefer a more clay based soil, hopefully i can get them going ok.

 

[Nomadinexile]

There's many different mosses. Around here they grow on rocks and rotting wood a lot. I would think wood moss would be easier in a milli terrarium. Keep on the look out for them while walking, you might just find a nice piece of wood already covered that will fit your terrarium.

 

[july_74]

Growing moss

i just used to coco for a filler to raise the substrate level a bit, the top 10-15cm of sub is 100% rainforest soil so dont think them eating the coco will be much of an issue. I've put live moss in the tank but it hasnt done well at all, any tips for getting it to grow? just doesnt seem to like me

I have gotten moss to start to grow by doing a simple procedure. Gather some moss, put the moss in a blender with buttermilk and pulse it until mixed/blended fairly good. You do not need to puree it to the consistencey of water but just enough to chop up the moss and mix it wiht the buttermilk. I know it sounds farfetched but it works. I would put a good cup of moss and maybe a cup of buttermilk in the blender. Then using a paint brush, paint the mixture on the surface you want to apply it to. I hav done this with stone and cement surfaces and the moss began to grow. I would keep it misted and it should grow on the wood or rocks. Good luck.

 

[Hornets inverts]

should this work for most types of moss? Do they need any uv, the tube i have on the tank is well past its use by date and is probably producing only a very minimal amount of uv if any, could that possibly be a problem? Also the tap water issue at the moment, will have to get back to using rain water

 

[july_74]

Well, I live in Georgia, and I have used this method for the moss here that grows on the ground and rocks, trees etc. Green/reddish in color, not the long Spanish moss that grows on trees in the coastal areas os the Southeast United states. With the lighting, I think that moderate light is fine. I also have Pothos growing in the habitat I have. 1 flourescent light, full spectrum daylight. Try some research from the natural resources department or a Horticulturist in your area. Also go into the wild and see how the moss you have is growing.

 

[Voodooschaaf]

Just a note:

Woodlice wouldnt eat the eggs, I have loads of them in all of my tanks, and it never occured that the eggs have been eaten by them.
Also in my "near to hatch boxes" in which i know exactly which amount of eggs i put in before, neverever.

Greez,
Shura and the whole bunch