New Millipede owner with habitat questions

[Elias Harper]

Hi. So I've been looking around at some habitats, but I can't figure out exactly what to put in them. Currently I'm using a fairly large plastic shoebox with 4-5 inches of substrate, some sticks and logs on top, and a large half log in the corner for them to hide under. Are live plants a good idea or would my pedes just eat them? Is there such thing as too much stuff on the surface? And do different species of millipedes do okay together? I have several different species in the same box currently, but was considering giving each different one their own little box.

 

[mickiem]

Hi there and welcome to the hobby! I think the shoebox habitat sounds appropriate. As a general rule of thumb, the habitat should be as deep as the millipede is long and 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 X as long as the millipede. Space above the substrate line isn't very important unless your vent holes are bigger than the millipede is round. Then stay 1 1/2 X his body length between the vent holes and substrate line.

The only problem with the plastic box is aesthetics. It isn't as clear as a glass aquarium. I usually take the lids off to view mine anyway, so clear isn't important to me.

I stay away from live plants. You would have to be sure the plant has not had toxic chemicals added and wouldn't be toxic if the millipedes ate them. Mine rarely eat greenery - some species eat a little spinach but not much. I haven't kept them together (with live plants) but I would think the millipedes would uproot the plants and it wouldn't be easy to keep attractive. Hopefully this winter I will put a display community terrarium together, so maybe I will feel differently then.

I keep my millipede species separate, but as long as the needs of the pedes are the same and there isn't a huge difference in size, they should be fine. Millipedes are docile and light footed, but I would worry about a giant being amorous to a tiny guy.

I like to keep the center of my enclosures open; it is where I add supplemental food. Then I have sticks, leaves, moss, etc. around the perimeter. This is just my preference. No rhyme or reason.

Make sure your substrate is edible. You are off and running!

 

[Elias Harper]

Hi there and welcome to the hobby! I think the shoebox habitat sounds appropriate. As a general rule of thumb, the habitat should be as deep as the millipede is long and 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 X as long as the millipede. Space above the substrate line isn't very important unless your vent holes are bigger than the millipede is round. Then stay 1 1/2 X his body length between the vent holes and substrate line.

The only problem with the plastic box is aesthetics. It isn't as clear as a glass aquarium. I usually take the lids off to view mine anyway, so clear isn't important to me.

I stay away from live plants. You would have to be sure the plant has not had toxic chemicals added and wouldn't be toxic if the millipedes ate them. Mine rarely eat greenery - some species eat a little spinach but not much. I haven't kept them together (with live plants) but I would think the millipedes would uproot the plants and it wouldn't be easy to keep attractive. Hopefully this winter I will put a display community terrarium together, so maybe I will feel differently then.

I keep my millipede species separate, but as long as the needs of the pedes are the same and there isn't a huge difference in size, they should be fine. Millipedes are docile and light footed, but I would worry about a giant being amorous to a tiny guy.

I like to keep the center of my enclosures open; it is where I add supplemental food. Then I have sticks, leaves, moss, etc. around the perimeter. This is just my preference. No rhyme or reason.

Make sure your substrate is edible. You are off and running!

Okay. So with substrate. What exactly goes into that. I think I'm just using eco dirt at the moment. Should I buy some or is it pretty easy to make?

 

[mickiem]

Okay. So with substrate. What exactly goes into that. I think I'm just using eco dirt at the moment. Should I buy some or is it pretty easy to make?

At the top of this forum there is a care sheet pinned by Cavedweller. It is very good and he outlines what should go into an edible substrate. Is Eco dirt the same as cocoa fiber? If so, it is not edible. You need dead leaves (oak, maple, beech, etc.) and rotten hardwood to be at least 1/2. If you can source the components from a safe and chemical free area, you are good to make your own. Do some research here on this forum. I would try to change the substrate in a few days and in the meantime, add some leaves at least.

What species do you have?

 

[Elias Harper]

At the top of this forum there is a care sheet pinned by Cavedweller. It is very good and he outlines what should go into an edible substrate. Is Eco dirt the same as cocoa fiber? If so, it is not edible. You need dead leaves (oak, maple, beech, etc.) and rotten hardwood to be at least 1/2. If you can source the components from a safe and chemical free area, you are good to make your own. Do some research here on this forum. I would try to change the substrate in a few days and in the meantime, add some leaves at least.

What species do you have?

I do have leaves. I try and put new ones in every day, mostly dried ones that came in a kit. As for species, I have about a dozen bumblebees, 2 adult orthoporus ornatus, 3 narceus americanus, 1 Floridobolus, 2 Sonoran Desert Millipedes and 3 of the ones pictured. Not quite sure what they are because seller labeled them narceus americanus but they're different. Much larger and differently colored

 

[mickiem]

What a great collection! You are starting big.

The N americanus in the photo look to be that species. What do they look different from? There are quite a few color morphs.

I don't think the leaves are enough - you need some rotten wood. But I'm not sure what eco earth is.

I might suggest you put the 2 Oo's and Sonoran in a separate enclosure. They prefer a drier environment. I think the rest should be ok together.

Enjoy!

 

[mickiem]

Ok - I just looked up Eco Earth and it is just cocoa fiber (coir) so you need to add some wood.

 

[Elias Harper]

Ok - I just looked up Eco Earth and it is just cocoa fiber (coir) so you need to add some wood.

A kit I got came with a bag of dead wood chunks. I've sprinkled those around the surface but they're too big to really mix in. I see the pedes crawling on them but I'm not sure if they're eating them. I've ordered some substrate that the person who I bought most of the pedes for makes so once that comes, I'll do one big switch and make the separate boxes.

 

[Elias Harper]

Ok - I just looked up Eco Earth and it is just cocoa fiber (coir) so you need to add some wood.

Should I post progress pictures? Is that at thing that's done here?

 

[mickiem]

Yes! Progress pics would be great. Your set up sounds pretty good. Just need to make the substrate edible.

 

[LawnShrimp]

A good starter mix can be bought at Bugs in Cyberspace for $15 per 3 pounds if you want more.
Or, if you want to, you can mix your own substrate. It should contain:
70-90% edible material such as shredded leaf flakes, shredded or small chunks of rotten wood soft enough to tear with your hand, decayed leaf compost
30-10% inedible material such as soil, coir, peat moss, or sandy loam (desert sp. only)

Nice 'pedes! If you listen to what @mickiem said you'll be just fine.

 

[Elias Harper]

Pedes are fairly active above ground. They seem happy enough. There's a bunch more that are burrowed, but I see these two around a lot.

 

[LawnShrimp]

Vegetables such as cucumber are their favorite, or anything soft and not too sweet. Dog or fish food can be used for protein, as well as dead insects if you have a culture of those for other pets.

 

[Elias Harper]

Moving

 

[Elias Harper]

Temporary home while substrate ships

 

[LawnShrimp]

Temporary home while substrate ships

Not enough people have black O. ornatus. I think they're just as nice as the gold ones. How are they doing?

 

[Elias Harper]

Ravenous