Question About Millipede "Stains"

pitbulllady

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
May 1, 2004
Messages
2,290
I have a large group of Narceus americanus, which I keep not only because I think they're neat critters but because their poop makes for some fantastic planting fertilizer, especially for ferns and other primitive plants, and they produce a LOT of it. However, as I'm sure many of you milli keepers know, these secrete large quantities of a brownish liquid in defense when handled, and it stains the skin. I mean, REALLY stains, as in this stuff could be used for semi-permanent "tattoos" that don't involve needles. How DO you get this stuff off? I've tried everything from white board cleaner to WD-40, with no luck. The stains last for weeks, not just a few days, and actually cause the skin on my fingertips to peel, which seems to be the only way to get rid of it. Have any of you keepers found anything that can remove it without removing the skin?

pitbulllady
 

SDCPs

Arachnolord
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
659
First off, try not to rile them I suppose :)

I have always let the stains go naturally and in a few days they were gone. If your hands are not used for anything that would tend to rub skin off maybe they last longer. I'd try taking some abrasives to the stained areas to get some of the outer coat of skin off and promote new skin growth.

I don't have any chemical remedies for you except to wash off with soap and water asap.

You could just don some disposable gloves when handling them.
 

Cavedweller

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Mar 23, 2011
Messages
1,064
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought to use them for fertilizer! I've only just started though. Do you use them just like you'd use worm castings?

Whoa, the stains I've received only lasted a few days (never handled a Narceus though). I wonder if there's something different about Narceus poison that makes the stain last longer. I've got no advice for removing it, I'm afraid.
 

pitbulllady

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
May 1, 2004
Messages
2,290
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought to use them for fertilizer! I've only just started though. Do you use them just like you'd use worm castings?

Whoa, the stains I've received only lasted a few days (never handled a Narceus though). I wonder if there's something different about Narceus poison that makes the stain last longer. I've got no advice for removing it, I'm afraid.
After several days, I notice that the bottom of their enclosure was all droppings, which quickly breaks down into what appears to be black soil(and basically, it is), so I transfer the 'pedes to another temporary holding area and remove the top layer(mostly old punky oak wood and dead leaves, plus whatever else I've fed them) and scoop out the bottom layer, and voila! Perfect fertilizer! Plants like ferns and Selaginellas really love this stuff. Most of my encounters with the poisons have been when I first collect a millipede, and I've got some really large specimens.

pitbulllady
 

pitbulllady

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
May 1, 2004
Messages
2,290
Thanks, Tongue Flicker! I will give that a try! Can't hurt, anyway.

pitbulllady
 

MrCrackerpants

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
1,652
After several days, I notice that the bottom of their enclosure was all droppings, which quickly breaks down into what appears to be black soil(and basically, it is), so I transfer the 'pedes to another temporary holding area and remove the top layer(mostly old punky oak wood and dead leaves, plus whatever else I've fed them) and scoop out the bottom layer, and voila! Perfect fertilizer! Plants like ferns and Selaginellas really love this stuff. Most of my encounters with the poisons have been when I first collect a millipede, and I've got some really large specimens.

pitbulllady
Be aware that you may be removing eggs when you do this. :)
 

SDCPs

Arachnolord
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
659
Be aware that you may be removing eggs when you do this. :)
But it is good that you do this because otherwise the substrate could poison the pedes. It does flamelegs at least, but then I usually have several hundred young in a container, so maybe the sheer numbers just exhaust the substrate quickly.

So what you do is put the old substrate in a separate container where you let it sit for a few months, then look for babies. If there are none you can use it as potting soil.

I decided to take my own advice and use a disposable glove today when moving many pedes...awesome. No stains--no dirt on my hands even.
 

MrCrackerpants

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
1,652
But it is good that you do this because otherwise the substrate could poison the pedes. It does flamelegs at least, but then I usually have several hundred young in a container, so maybe the sheer numbers just exhaust the substrate quickly.
I gently remove the old substrate and gently add new dead leaves, coir, moss and rotten wood. I then use this "recharged" and diluted substrate to start new colonies in new enclosures. This preserves any possible eggs and provides a healthy substrate. By doing this I have accumulated a large number of Trigoniulus macropygus (Flameleg Millipede) colonies. I never take this substrate from one millipede species and started a new colony with another millipede species.
 
Last edited:

SDCPs

Arachnolord
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
659
I gently remove the old substrate and gently add new dead leaves, coir, moss and rotten wood. I then use this "recharged" and diluted substrate to start new colonies in new enclosures. This preserves any possible eggs and provides a healthy substrate. By doing this I have accumulated a large number of Trigoniulus macropygus (Flameleg Millipede) colonies. I never take this substrate from one millipede species and started a new colony with another millipede species.

As space and time is limited one can't use your method forever :p
 

pitbulllady

Arachnoking
Old Timer
Joined
May 1, 2004
Messages
2,290
Be aware that you may be removing eggs when you do this. :)
I'm aware of that, but the eggs are going into another favorable environment for hatching. They just won't hatch in the tub with the adults. I look for eggs by sifting through the spent substrate, but any that I miss aren't being discarded, since I'm using that material.

pitbulllady
 

MrCrackerpants

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
1,652
I'm aware of that, but the eggs are going into another favorable environment for hatching. They just won't hatch in the tub with the adults. I look for eggs by sifting through the spent substrate, but any that I miss aren't being discarded, since I'm using that material.

pitbulllady
Cool! :) :) :)

---------- Post added 06-20-2014 at 09:59 PM ----------

As space and time is limited one can't use your method forever :p
...if one contemplates the "millipede space-time continuum" all methods are possible forever...
 
Last edited:

SDCPs

Arachnolord
Joined
Feb 8, 2012
Messages
659
Sorry OP for hijacking your thread.

lol...ya, it's packed out already...too many arachnids and roaches... :)
I'll have to post a photo thread after I finish the tower that's going on top of my 100g aquarium...When you can't build out, build up! I mean hey, the wall is totally blank above the 100G...utilizing that space is just smart ;)
 

MrCrackerpants

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
1,652
Sorry OP for hijacking your thread.



I'll have to post a photo thread after I finish the tower that's going on top of my 100g aquarium...When you can't build out, build up! I mean hey, the wall is totally blank above the 100G...utilizing that space is just smart ;)
Ya, sorry OP. :(

Yes, I would like to see that SDCPs. :)
 
Top