Orthoporus ornatus -- the other nine months of the year

[ErinM31]

One of my millipedes has emerged from hibernation. I wondered if maybe I added too much water recently, but the other two are still below and sadly I see that she has a very bad molting injury. Not only is there the black scabbing, but it looks like some of the exoskeleton may be missing from part of that segment. How could such a dreadful injury happen?! No, I certainly haven't gone digging or moving anything that is in the substrate -- I learned that lesson -- the only exception being the removal of a dying succulent that was infested with fungus gnats. That was, however, quite a few weeks ago and by her overall pale appearance, I would say that she molted quite recently. Is it ridiculous to suspect the cacti? They are hardy locals, grown from broken pieces I found and survive inundation as well as drought. I've heard that these millipedes like to burrow among plant roots -- surely they would not if roots regularly broke into their molting chambers! Perhaps it is this particular species of cactus? The only invertebrates in the tank besides the three O. ornatus are some fungus gnats (working on bringing down their numbers with traps) and maybe a few springtails. Do bad molts just happen sometimes with every species? Is there anything that I can do to at least make her more comfortable? I doubt very much that she has long to live.

 

[Hisserdude]

That's horrible, I hope she survives. Could it be lack of moisture? If the air is too dry in the molting chamber then that could have been the reason for the mismolt, or if she made her molting chamber in an area that the ceiling of the cell could have been rather dry, then it could have collapsed on her, dryer substrate does not hold it's shape well.

 

[ErinM31]

That's horrible, I hope she survives. Could it be lack of moisture? If the air is too dry in the molting chamber then that could have been the reason for the mismolt, or if she made her molting chamber in an area that the ceiling of the cell could have been rather dry, then it could have collapsed on her, dryer substrate does not hold it's shape well.

Oh, that might be it, or more likely when I was adding water just this week as I noticed the substrate had gotten drier that I intended to keep it! I should have thought of this and been even more careful in how I added the water. I am already thinking of how I might redo this set-up once the other two emerge (hopefully in good health!!!), sort of underground irrigation since presumably when they are underground, they are in an area of soil maintaining some moisture while the soil above them has become dry.

 

[SDCPs]

Could you get a photo? If so we can give you our predictions on how bad the molt is. Bad molts do happen every now and then, unfortunately!

 

[ErinM31]

Could you get a photo? If so we can give you our predictions on how bad the molt is. Bad molts do happen every now and then, unfortunately!

This is the worst of the injury:


I currently have her in a dry ICU with a water dish:

 

[ErinM31]

The above millipede looks to be healing well and I have moved her back to the main enclosure -- where a second millipede has now emerged! I guess I overdid the last watering but the substrate looked really dry to me and the substrate is deep. Well, I would rather they emerge early and be okay than die of dehydration. Maybe they were in no danger of the latter but I am still a newbie and the substrate looked to me like it was getting dry toward the bottom layer. Anyway, my second girl emerged looking just fine -- a bit plump in fact. She was thirsty though and when I misted a corner, went over to drink the water droplets from the glass.

 

[mickiem]

My Orthoporus ornatus drink from a shallow plate. I don't use water bowls except for in this enclosure because the substrate is drier and I see them drinking a lot. I haven't sexed mine but I have a dozen or more so I likely have pairs. I feed them gourds; that's what they like! How are yours doing @ErinM31 ?

 

[ErinM31]

My Orthoporus ornatus drink from a shallow plate. I don't use water bowls except for in this enclosure because the substrate is drier and I see them drinking a lot. I haven't sexed mine but I have a dozen or more so I likely have pairs. I feed them gourds; that's what they like! How are yours doing @ErinM31 ?

I've seen mine drink as well. I haven't given them a water dish but mist often and I've seen them drink the droplets from the sides. I have two left -- only one of which is one of the original three I started with (picked up another at a reptile show this past summer) as one never emerged from burrowing (so I guess it could still be alive and well under there) and the one pictured above did not recover from its molting injury. But the two I have seem to be doing well -- they are beautiful and often active millipedes.

While it seems likely that you have at least one male, this is one of several species where I have seen FAR more females than males (just my experience?). Mating in captivity has been observed, but there are no records of successful reproduction. We have yet to figure out why...

 

[mickiem]

I've seen mine drink as well. I haven't given them a water dish but mist often and I've seen them drink the droplets from the sides. I have two left -- only one of which is one of the original three I started with (picked up another at a reptile show this past summer) as one never emerged from burrowing (so I guess it could still be alive and well under there) and the one pictured above did not recover from its molting injury. But the two I have seem to be doing well -- they are beautiful and often active millipedes.

While it seems likely that you have at least one male, this is one of several species where I have seen FAR more females than males (just my experience?). Mating in captivity has been observed, but there are no records of successful reproduction. We have yet to figure out why...

Mine stay pretty active. Each one that I have been able to sex has been a female. I forgot to sex them before I put them in their enclosure. Snap! I don't want to go digging so I will be patient. My substrate is about 6" and is a mixture of coir, sand, fermented oak and mesquite and a variety of dead leaves. I have never seen mating behavior. Do the chocolates and gold interbreed? It would be nice to unlock their secrets.

 

[ErinM31]

Mine stay pretty active. Each one that I have been able to sex has been a female. I forgot to sex them before I put them in their enclosure. Snap! I don't want to go digging so I will be patient. My substrate is about 6" and is a mixture of coir, sand, fermented oak and mesquite and a variety of dead leaves. I have never seen mating behavior. Do the chocolates and gold interbreed? It would be nice to unlock their secrets.

Sounds good! Yes, the different color morphs can interbreed; @Mastigoproctus has found copper morphs that are the result a cross between the gold color and large brown ones from the Percha river valley.

 

[TwoJays]

So far as we know, no one has successfully had Orthoporus ornatus reproduce in captivity.

Reviving this. Found it on Google
How is everything?

 

[ErinM31]

Reviving this. Found it on Google
How is everything?

It did not go so well for me, alas! Some individuals lived a relatively long time while others died off after burrowing. I think that trying to provide dry spells while keeping the substrate the right moisture level is very difficult within a well-ventilated terrarium. Plus, you then have a visually empty terrarium for months. I would recommend keeping this millipede as others have done successfully (albeit without reproduction), including high ventilation but misting often. I was hoping to stimulate egg-laying but have since realized how much of a long shot that was when we don’t know this millipede’s life cycle in the wild; I’ve even seen it hypothesized that they may have a relationship with a particular species of ant! An unrelated millipede species which I did manage to get offspring required debris from resinous trees native to its habitat!

I hope that answers your question and good luck with your endeavors!