Millipedes smell like mint

[PrettyPede]

So my daughter and I recently got some Texas Gold and Sonoran Desert pedes. They have a most peculiar smell, like minty toothpaste almost. Does anyone know why they smell like that?

 

[Arthroverts]

I have heard that some species' defensive secretions will smell somewhat fruity, but I haven't heard any reports of Orthoporus sp. giving off a mint-like smell. Were they secreting their defensive chemicals when you smelled it?

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[PrettyPede]

I have heard that some species' defensive secretions will smell somewhat fruity, but I haven't heard any reports of Orthoporus sp. giving off a mint-like smell. Were they secreting their defensive chemicals when you smelled it?

Thanks,

Arthroverts

No they weren’t secreting anything. We have 12 and they all smell like toothpaste. My daughter had a smoky oak and it didn’t have a smell whatsoever. This minty thing just has me stumped.

 

[BepopCola]

That's interesting! Maybe they were fed something minty?
I went to go smell my Orthoporus sp. and they didn't smell particularly like anything.
and then one pooped on me.

 

[PrettyPede]

That's interesting! Maybe they were fed something minty?
I went to go smell my Orthoporus sp. and they didn't smell particularly like anything.
and then one pooped on me.

When I got them, they were eating carrot. Maybe they had mint leaves not long ago? ‍

 

[Arthroverts]

Could be...
I honestly don't know. Let us know how they do though, and whether or not they continue to smell like mint.

Thanks,

Arthroverts