- Joined
- Jul 23, 2016
- Messages
- 1,652
I know there are a lot of millipede substrate recipes out there and of course this one is very similar. I was keeping N. americanus millipedes for about a year with no babies. I had been told by many that dwarf white isopods were fine tankmates. I disagree as I am certain that's why I found no babies.
About a month ago, I rehoused some Acladocricus because they had grown and needed deeper substrate but also, they had turned the sub to frass! They loved their new mix and were active and still are, so I tried to duplicate that mix for these needy cherry footed friends
Coir: 50% of the mix. I know others use less but it holds moisture and texture better than anything else I have found.
Green Envy Leaf compost: 30%. It is organic. I bake it at 250° for two hours. Any bagged product may have plastic and metal pieces in it so I go through it thoroughly.
Traager Oak Pellets: 5-10%. I really don't know if these make a difference but I had them on hand last time and it was such a good mix I decided I would continue to include it. I soaked them first.
Dead Oak Leaves: 5%. I baked them also for two hours at 200° Then crumbled them into the mix. I also add the leaves on the top.
Aspen Shreds: Just a few handfuls, I think this adds a good texture to the overall mix.
Hardwood: About a handful. I put cherry oak hickory and maple in my pressure cooker at 15 pounds pressure for 45 minutes. These were branches that I thought they would crawl on but I noticed how nicely they crumbled. I'm just learning about white rotted wood and dark rotted wood and the different bacteria that causes that. I had both; I crumbled them and added them.
Cuttlefish Bone: I ground an entire cuttlefish probably about a tablespoon.
After I added some dried leaves on top and some branches I put the pedes back. Within a few minutes every male had found a mate. @Hisserdude thanks for convincing me to change the substrate; I'll name the firstborn after you!
I hope this isn't redundant, I just think my pedes are happy. My amounts aren't exact but the next time I make it I'm going to be more careful so I can write it all down. I will also boil some sheet moss and add it around the top. The pedes like to coil under it and it's easy and not invasive to simply lift it to look at them. Also holds moisture.
What would you add or not use? How is your mix different?
About a month ago, I rehoused some Acladocricus because they had grown and needed deeper substrate but also, they had turned the sub to frass! They loved their new mix and were active and still are, so I tried to duplicate that mix for these needy cherry footed friends
Coir: 50% of the mix. I know others use less but it holds moisture and texture better than anything else I have found.
Green Envy Leaf compost: 30%. It is organic. I bake it at 250° for two hours. Any bagged product may have plastic and metal pieces in it so I go through it thoroughly.
Traager Oak Pellets: 5-10%. I really don't know if these make a difference but I had them on hand last time and it was such a good mix I decided I would continue to include it. I soaked them first.
Dead Oak Leaves: 5%. I baked them also for two hours at 200° Then crumbled them into the mix. I also add the leaves on the top.
Aspen Shreds: Just a few handfuls, I think this adds a good texture to the overall mix.
Hardwood: About a handful. I put cherry oak hickory and maple in my pressure cooker at 15 pounds pressure for 45 minutes. These were branches that I thought they would crawl on but I noticed how nicely they crumbled. I'm just learning about white rotted wood and dark rotted wood and the different bacteria that causes that. I had both; I crumbled them and added them.
Cuttlefish Bone: I ground an entire cuttlefish probably about a tablespoon.
After I added some dried leaves on top and some branches I put the pedes back. Within a few minutes every male had found a mate. @Hisserdude thanks for convincing me to change the substrate; I'll name the firstborn after you!
I hope this isn't redundant, I just think my pedes are happy. My amounts aren't exact but the next time I make it I'm going to be more careful so I can write it all down. I will also boil some sheet moss and add it around the top. The pedes like to coil under it and it's easy and not invasive to simply lift it to look at them. Also holds moisture.
What would you add or not use? How is your mix different?
Last edited: