mites on millipedes?

[ecooper]

This may seem like a slightly dumb question...

Last summer I got 6 baby giant African millipedes. I’m not sure which species they are. They have been thriving and growing ever since. Last weekend I bought another 4 from the same pet shop to add to the group. These aren’t babies, but they are young and smaller than my first group.

When I bought them the owner mentioned that he had been having problems with mites and had added some isopods to their tank. So I have set them up separately from my first group.

Now here is my somewhat dumb question…how do I make sure group 2 is mite free before I put them all together? I have never had mites on any of my animals ever and really don’t know what to look for. Where on the millipedes would I see them? How mobile are they? Etc…

Like I said, kind of an odd question but comments welcome.

Cheers,
EC

 

[wastedwoodsman]

A lot of African giant black millipedes have mites on them! They actually are beneficial to your pedes because they help keep their feet and little legs clean. The only mites you really have to worry about are the white ones that will often hurt them. But if they are fast moving brown mites those are normal! Also i'd be careful adding Isopods as they can sometimes eat millipede eggs If I am remembering correctly.

 

[ecooper]

So...white bad brown good...that's it?

 

[wastedwoodsman]

Yea pretty much! I had a combination of white and brown mites on my Female agb and she's still living today and has given me babies. I don't think you have much to worry about.