millipedes biting?

[Cavedweller]

Sometimes millipedes can fight each other savagely.. I've heard of incidents where they werent getting proper nutrition, and began biting at each others' legs and antennae..

I saw this with my O. ornatus once! It was kind of incredible, I'd never seen a millipede move like a predator before. The attacker struck and coiled around the victim like a snake. Luckily I was able to break it up and everybody was ok.

I had no idea malnutrition could case that behavior! I do wonder if there's more than one cause, as I've only seen it happen once.

 

[kristinc]

Yes! She twists and strikes almost like a snake. When the pet store employee disturbed her in her tank, she reared up in the air like she was ready for a smackdown.

 

[Cavedweller]

That's one hardcore millipede!