Scoliolioli
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2019
- Messages
- 29
Hi everyone!
I'm new and just got into researching centipedes as a hobby. I've always thought centipedes are cool, but was told horror stories about how deadly they are. So even though they were cool, I'd still kill them if they came into my house.
Fast forward to 2016 when I saw a video on YouTube. Someone was showing his method to socialize his centipedes, and I wanted to do that with local 'pedes if I ever got the chance.
So after practicing catching these guys (starting with dead/dying specimens. I didn't want to get tagged), I found this huge s. Alternans near my front door in September 2019.
Now this was my first time catching a healthy, BIG specimen. I grabbed it behind the head capsule to prevent a bite. I am pretty sure it was a rough catch, and it may have resulted in problems later on.
So, I tried socializing it. It seemed to be working. Nope Noodle is its name. Noodle tends to be super chill and doesn't mind being pet. It never wants to be hand-fed, so all I can do is keep my fingers close to its antennae as I pet it. I even got to handle the guy/girl twice... Until Nope went into premolt in late October and molted in December.
After that Nope has not let me handle it. Disappointing, but Ok, I'll respect that. Just a couple weeks ago it was Ok with petting. Recently Nope has gotten used to resting above ground during the day, but any attempts at petting now result in it bolting it into the closest tunnel it can find, waving its terminals at me.
Just this morning I went and tried petting it before refilling its water dish. I got bit on my right index finger. I was able to get Nope off of me before it could envenomate me. Oddly enough I went on to do the usual cage maintenance without being attacked further.
So what gives? Have I permanently messed up in socializing this pede? Does this mean Nope will hate me for all time? Is lifting an enclosure lid (sterilite bin lid with holes) spooking the pede?
On the bright side, Nope Noodle has helped me dispel many of the awful things my family believed about these wonderful animals. Regardless of whether socializing Nope is a success, being able to prove centipedes aren't out to deliberately attack humans is a huge win for me!
TL;DR: I started caring for a s. Alternans. Socializing seems to be failing, after a string of successes. Wondering if the centipede will forever hate me.
Here's a picture of the Nope!
I'm new and just got into researching centipedes as a hobby. I've always thought centipedes are cool, but was told horror stories about how deadly they are. So even though they were cool, I'd still kill them if they came into my house.
Fast forward to 2016 when I saw a video on YouTube. Someone was showing his method to socialize his centipedes, and I wanted to do that with local 'pedes if I ever got the chance.
So after practicing catching these guys (starting with dead/dying specimens. I didn't want to get tagged), I found this huge s. Alternans near my front door in September 2019.
Now this was my first time catching a healthy, BIG specimen. I grabbed it behind the head capsule to prevent a bite. I am pretty sure it was a rough catch, and it may have resulted in problems later on.
So, I tried socializing it. It seemed to be working. Nope Noodle is its name. Noodle tends to be super chill and doesn't mind being pet. It never wants to be hand-fed, so all I can do is keep my fingers close to its antennae as I pet it. I even got to handle the guy/girl twice... Until Nope went into premolt in late October and molted in December.
After that Nope has not let me handle it. Disappointing, but Ok, I'll respect that. Just a couple weeks ago it was Ok with petting. Recently Nope has gotten used to resting above ground during the day, but any attempts at petting now result in it bolting it into the closest tunnel it can find, waving its terminals at me.
Just this morning I went and tried petting it before refilling its water dish. I got bit on my right index finger. I was able to get Nope off of me before it could envenomate me. Oddly enough I went on to do the usual cage maintenance without being attacked further.
So what gives? Have I permanently messed up in socializing this pede? Does this mean Nope will hate me for all time? Is lifting an enclosure lid (sterilite bin lid with holes) spooking the pede?
On the bright side, Nope Noodle has helped me dispel many of the awful things my family believed about these wonderful animals. Regardless of whether socializing Nope is a success, being able to prove centipedes aren't out to deliberately attack humans is a huge win for me!
TL;DR: I started caring for a s. Alternans. Socializing seems to be failing, after a string of successes. Wondering if the centipede will forever hate me.
Here's a picture of the Nope!