New to centipedes need help!

[Depro900]

Hello all, I just wanted to start by saying I have been keeping tarantulas and scorpions for years but recently (last few months) I have got an amusement with giant centipedes. I actually have a huge fear of common house centipedes but was recently shown a giant one (and a mini feeding) at an exotic pet shop where I live and I was actually amazed of how beautiful it was (unsure of the sp) and decided I may want to attain one to learn more about them and get over my fear once and for all. My only concern is I do not know much about them but I am learning more within this forum. A company I usually get T's and scorpions from has many captive bred baby centipedes for sale at the moment but I am unsure of a good beginner one. I want one thats small to start out with so I'm able to grow with it and I prefer a specimen that does well in dry or semi dry habitats. I just feel this would be the easiest way for me to start and be able to keep out of the terrarium as much as possible (safe distance) until I learn more about them. The 4 species I really like that I am looking into include the Scolopendra heros casteniceps, Scolopendra heros heros, Scolopendra subspinipes (Borneo Red Head) and the Scolopendra polymorpha. I wanted to know your opinions on this matter and possibly any recommendations out of the 4 I am looking into as I am unsure if they are good or horrible beginner centipedes. Any help would be very appreciated, thanks again and I'm sorry for the novel! I would just love to learn more about these interesting creatures.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Good idea to decide to jump into those, they are amazing predators

still today I keep saying that my female Scolopendra subspinipes is the most 'cold' ruthless invert I have, able to put T's like 'baboon' in the ranting brats league u_u

I personally love Asian 'pedes, but the choice is up to you. For the same reason, I can't be detailed about the care because, obviously, the care will differ between Asian and American desert ones.

What is essential, no matter, is: provide a no escape enclosure, because they are masters when it comes to 'Papillon' the hell out

 

[Depro900]

Good idea to decide to jump into those, they are amazing predators

still today I keep saying that my female Scolopendra subspinipes is the most 'cold' ruthless invert I have, able to put T's like 'baboon' in the ranting brats league u_u

I personally love Asian 'pedes, but the choice is up to you. For the same reason, I can't be detailed about the care because, obviously, the care will differ between Asian and American desert ones.

What is essential, no matter, is: provide a no escape enclosure, because they are masters when it comes to 'Papillon' the hell out

Thank you so much for the info! Yes an escape proof enclosure would be my number 1 priority no matter what, any suggestions? The top 2 species I am the most interested in have to be the Scolopendra heros casteniceps, and the Scolopendra subspinipes (Borneo Red Head). Would you be able to recommend one over the other for a beginner and maybe give me some general care for both a dessert American and an asian pede?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Thank you so much for the info! Yes an escape proof enclosure would be my number 1 priority no matter what, any suggestions? The top 2 species I am the most interested in have to be the Scolopendra heros casteniceps, and the Scolopendra subspinipes (Borneo Red Head). Would you be able to recommend one over the other for a beginner and maybe give me some general care for both a dessert American and an asian pede?

Yes. I can give you an hand for the care, but I prefer to leave the S.heros (and other desert 'pedes) care to others, since I don't own one

As I've said, I really like Asian 'pedes... I think they are amazing, quite big, I like the colours, easy to care and, last but not least, more or less those are cheaper (which never hurts, ah ah).

Venom is brutal (I'm certain you know this) but I love to say that when it comes to suggest a "beginner" 'pedes, isn't like when it comes for T's. Things are different.

There isn't that much of a choice. Like you, I had lot of years of Arachnids under my belt (started in '92 with the average 'rose hair' and 'avics') but zero with those.

Well, my first centipede was a S.subspinipes

 

[Chris LXXIX]

So, the care for Asian ones is very simple.

Starting from a no escape enclosure and assuming we are talking about a juve/adult, offer a good 5/6 inches of substrate. Substrate should be moist (never wet).

A water dish, of course. Put inside the enclosure a couple of fake leaves, pieces of cork bark (if not available, other wood is ok) because they love to hide, they need to hide. A good ventilation IMO is mandatory, due to the humidity needed.

Especially if happens like happened to me that arrive a gravid female

Why I say this? Simple, because 99% of the 'pedes (no matter the specie, now) are pure WC, not CB ones (they doesn't have the market T's has, so almost no one breed those) so isn't rare at all to end with a female, often gravid.

So, in this case, gravid females needs to feel "secure", otherwise in a way or another, the mommy will eat the eggs.

Aside this detail, care is very, very easy. If you ask me, those Asian ones are pretty hard and not 'delicate' like sometimes depicted.

Ferociuos eaters

Here, this is my set up, btw:



Substrate is normal Irish moss peat.

 

[Staehilomyces]

Welcome to the centipede hobby!
Anyway, before I give you any advice, I will first tell you what my definition of a "good beginner species" is, just so you know where I'm coming from when I label a species as one. I would define a good beginner species as something which is comparatively safe, but will still prepare a keeper for everything above its level. For instance, let's take a look at those harmless garden/soil centipedes (Lithobiomorpha, Geophilomorpha etc). Safe? Check; completely harmless. But will keeping them prepare you for keeping the large, aggressive centipede such as Scolopendra dehaani? Absolutely not. Thus, I would not consider them good beginner species. On the other hand, I would say Scolopendra polymorpha is a great beginner species. It is reasonably safe, but will still give a keeper a taste of what is required in terms of precautions and accommodation, in order to own one of the large Scolopendrid centipedes. Thus, you can keep S. polymorpha and gain the experience to move into more advanced species. On the contrary, you can keep Scolopocryptops, Lithobius, Rhysida etc. for years and never be prepared for keeping one of the larger Scolopendrids.
Bottom line: of the species you're interested in, the best one for a beginner is S. polymorpha. Hope this helps.

 

[Staehilomyces]

Also, in regards to substrate, I feel as though an enormous amount isn't completely neccessary. As long as they have a hide, you can afford to have much less substrate. At least that's what I have found.

 

[Depro900]

So, the care for Asian ones is very simple.

Starting from a no escape enclosure and assuming we are talking about a juve/adult, offer a good 5/6 inches of substrate. Substrate should be moist (never wet).

A water dish, of course. Put inside the enclosure a couple of fake leaves, pieces of cork bark (if not available, other wood is ok) because they love to hide, they need to hide. A good ventilation IMO is mandatory, due to the humidity needed.

Especially if happens like happened to me that arrive a gravid female

Why I say this? Simple, because 99% of the 'pedes (no matter the specie, now) are pure WC, not CB ones (they doesn't have the market T's has, so almost no one breed those) so isn't rare at all to end with a female, often gravid.

So, in this case, gravid females needs to feel "secure", otherwise in a way or another, the mommy will eat the eggs.

Aside this detail, care is very, very easy. If you ask me, those Asian ones are pretty hard and not 'delicate' like sometimes depicted.

Ferociuos eaters

Here, this is my set up, btw:

View attachment 250983

Substrate is normal Irish moss peat.

Awesome info! They don't seem all that bad to care for after all, I just feel as if people make them seem so hard to keep healthy. Do you use springtails in the enclosure also if feeding weekly I am assuming there is weekly bolus clean ups like with T's and scorps? The size of the ones I have options to get are around the 1.5' mark so I was thinking in starting with something like this if its acceptable? Then possibly moving the specimen into bigger tubs then a glass enclosure or an acrylic enclosure as it gets bigger.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Also, in regards to substrate, I feel as though an enormous amount isn't completely neccessary. As long as they have a hide, you can afford to have much less substrate. At least that's what I have found.

I have noticed that my S.subspinipes love that... she burrowed under the cork (the one you see on the right of the pic I have uploaded) and created a series of hole everywhere in the substrate.

She's completely out only when she's hungry, remain hours outside, then, again... disappears under

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Awesome info! They don't seem all that bad to care for after all, I just feel as if people make them seem so hard to keep healthy. Do you use springtails in the enclosure also if feeding weekly I am assuming there is weekly bolus clean ups like with T's and scorps? The size of the ones I have options to get are around the 1.5' mark so I was thinking in starting with something like this if its acceptable? Then possibly moving the specimen into bigger tubs then a glass enclosure or an acrylic enclosure as it gets bigger. View attachment 250984

No, they aren't hard at all to care. Not different, parameters speaking, from Asian T's (like genus Haplopema etc).

Mine was a juvenile so she ended directly in the 'final enclosure'. I suggest always those clean plastic kinda storage box but I know keepers that here in Italy use glass enclosures without particular problems.

I've never used springtails in my life the trick I use for my 'pede is this: I offer prey to her only when she's out, so I can see her eating (and, rarely but happens, doing so I can remove the prey if she isn't) so it's easy to clean the prey remains because they are easy to spot, and never hidden in holes etc

 

[Depro900]

Welcome to the centipede hobby!
Anyway, before I give you any advice, I will first tell you what my definition of a "good beginner species" is, just so you know where I'm coming from when I label a species as one. I would define a good beginner species as something which is comparatively safe, but will still prepare a keeper for everything above its level. For instance, let's take a look at those harmless garden/soil centipedes (Lithobiomorpha, Geophilomorpha etc). Safe? Check; completely harmless. But will keeping them prepare you for keeping the large, aggressive centipede such as Scolopendra dehaani? Absolutely not. Thus, I would not consider them good beginner species. On the other hand, I would say Scolopendra polymorpha is a great beginner species. It is reasonably safe, but will still give a keeper a taste of what is required in terms of precautions and accommodation, in order to own one of the large Scolopendrid centipedes. Thus, you can keep S. polymorpha and gain the experience to move into more advanced species. On the contrary, you can keep Scolopocryptops, Lithobius, Rhysida etc. for years and never be prepared for keeping one of the larger Scolopendrids.
Bottom line: of the species you're interested in, the best one for a beginner is S. polymorpha. Hope this helps.

I am thinking the S. polymorpha is my more realistic option but I just love the way S. heros casteniceps looks so much better. In your opinion whats the major difference between the 2. How big will an adult S. polymorpha get? The price difference is incredible where I live theres an S. polymorpha captive bred 1.5" for $30.00 and the Scolopendra heros casteniceps CB 1" for $115.00

 

[Staehilomyces]

Well, I'm from Australia, so I'm not talking from experience here, but S. polymorpha usually seem to get around 15cm (give or take a couple cm, depending on the form/locality). S. heros gets to 25cm, but usually is around the 20cm mark. If you've been keeping OW tarantulas, you should be fine with a S. heros is you wish; centipedes, in spite of their reputation, are really a piece of cake compared to OWTs in my opinion.

 

[Depro900]

Well, I'm from Australia, so I'm not talking from experience here, but S. polymorpha usually seem to get around 15cm (give or take a couple cm, depending on the form/locality). S. heros gets to 25cm, but usually is around the 20cm mark. If you've been keeping OW tarantulas, you should be fine with a S. heros is you wish; centipedes, in spite of their reputation, are really a piece of cake compared to OWTs in my opinion.

So lucky you are, I have always wanted to visit Australia ever since I can remember. I do like the S. heros appearance better but the smaller size of the S. polymorph seems more feasible to me. I want it to be somewhat large but not too big. Hmm a piece of cake compare to OWT's wow that makes me feel more comfortable about getting one! Can you elaborate on as to why perhaps?

 

[Staehilomyces]

Well, they can't climb smoother surfaces for one, although they can reach up walls to almost their entire body length. They also don't usually bolt for no apparent reason, unlike OWT's, and will generally prefer to run away instead of attack. In addition, rehousing is a much easier task, owing to their inability to climb smooth surfaces.

 

[Staehilomyces]

Nevertheless, they can still be frighteningly aggrsssive. My 15cm Ethmostigmus rubripes (not full grown, may reach 25cm) either attacks anything that touches it, or runs madly around the enclosure if disturbed.

 

[Depro900]

Well, they can't climb smoother surfaces for one, although they can reach up walls to almost their entire body length. They also don't usually bolt for no apparent reason, unlike OWT's, and will generally prefer to run away instead of attack. In addition, rehousing is a much easier task, owing to their inability to climb smooth surfaces.

Ok got it makes much more sense now. Would a Scolopendra polymorpha or a Scolopendra heros casteniceps be alright with room temperatures? My house is usually between 69-75F depending on the time of year.

 

[Staehilomyces]

Should be alright. I've never fussed around with heating for anything that does not naturally live way out of my temp range, and they've all done just fine.

 

[kevinlowl]

Nevertheless, they can still be frighteningly aggrsssive. My 15cm Ethmostigmus rubripes (not full grown, may reach 25cm) either attacks anything that touches it, or runs madly around the enclosure if disturbed.

They grow up to 10 inches?!!

 

[Staehilomyces]

Some forms at least. The biggest one I've seen in a photo was 24cm.

 

[Venomgland]

Some forms at least. The biggest one I've seen in a photo was 24cm.

What is the species in your profile picture?