Scolopendra morsitans Questions

[sloth]

One of my local reptile shops has a red headed Scolopendra morsitans for sale. I’m thinking about buying it. I have a few questions first:

1. How do I keep them? Moist? Dry?

2. How big do they get?

3. How much does one normally go for in the U.S.?

4. Recommended enclosure size?

5. How potent is their venom? Am I going to experience only pain, or other symptoms as well?

Anything will help. Thanks

 

[sloth]

Sorry forgot a one

6. Do they tend to stay buried, hide under corkbark, or do they even stay out in the open?

 

[sloth]

Anyone?

 

[NYAN]

Someone has morsitans?! Uhh? Are you sure it’s a morsitans. They haven’t been imported in a long time.

Can you post some photos of it? How much is it?

 

[Bill S]

One of my local reptile shops has a red headed Scolopendra morsitans for sale......

Red headed? Could this be Scolopendra mutilans rather than morsitans?

 

[Staehilomyces]

Could be polymorpha too. They bear a bit of a resemblance.

Anyway, morsitans should be kept mostly dry, with a waterdish, as they're typically arid pedes. They are often quite visible on the surface (mine are, at least, but perhaps the Australian morsitans are different from the ones available overseas in this regard).

 

[sloth]

Someone has morsitans?! Uhh? Are you sure it’s a morsitans. They haven’t been imported in a long time.

Can you post some photos of it? How much is it?

I asked him for a pic but he said he couldn’t send me one until next week when he feeds it again. He’s selling it for $45

 

[sloth]

Red headed? Could this be Scolopendra mutilans rather than morsitans?

Could be... just have to wait until he sends me a pic

 

[Scoly]

Post a few close-up photo of it when you get it, and ask exactly where it came from if you can. I'm not sure what the latest US import scene is like so can't comment on whether it is likely that you can source that species, but it is common in Africa, Australia and SE Asia, and introduced in many other places too, so you may well have got lucky.

As for care, if you don't know what it is or where it's from, the simple rule of thumb is that the lighter the colouration, the more likely it is to come from an arid area, and vice versa. Of course there are exceptions, but it's a reasonable rule of thumb. Also, don't listen to the care sheets which tell you that ALL centipedes need high humidity. That will kill a desert species as surely as dry conditions will kill a forest species. The best bet if you're unsure how to keep it is to go set up a decent sized enclosure with good ventilation, dry air and dry substrate on the surface, but moist areas under a large hide, as well as a water dish.

 

[sloth]

Post a few close-up photo of it when you get it, and ask exactly where it came from if you can. I'm not sure what the latest US import scene is like so can't comment on whether it is likely that you can source that species, but it is common in Africa, Australia and SE Asia, and introduced in many other places too, so you may well have got lucky.

As for care, if you don't know what it is or where it's from, the simple rule of thumb is that the lighter the colouration, the more likely it is to come from an arid area, and vice versa. Of course there are exceptions, but it's a reasonable rule of thumb. Also, don't listen to the care sheets which tell you that ALL centipedes need high humidity. That will kill a desert species as surely as dry conditions will kill a forest species. The best bet if you're unsure how to keep it is to go set up a decent sized enclosure with good ventilation, dry air and dry substrate on the surface, but moist areas under a large hide, as well as a water dish.

He has it labeled as African red headed centipede so I’m guessing if he’s right then he got it imported from Africa. I’m not sure if I’m gonna buy it until he sends me pics because if it turns out to be a polymorpha, I’ll be disappointed because I already have 5. Don’t get me wrong they’re awesome, but I don’t want to pay $45 for one.

 

[NYAN]

He has it labeled as African red headed centipede so I’m guessing if he’s right then he got it imported from Africa.

I’d like to see pics still.

Also, importing wildlife into the US isn’t easy. It wouldn’t make sense for him to get a single centipede.

 

[sloth]

I’d like to see pics still.

Also, importing wildlife into the US isn’t easy. It wouldn’t make sense for him to get a single centipede.

He has 5 of them. He could’ve bought it as a captive bred from some type of breeder because he buys from about 10 different breeders to supply his shop.

 

[sloth]

@NYAN @Scoly @Bill S

The guy at the reptile shop finally sent me a pic.

Definitely not a S. mutilans. Kind of looks like a polymorpha to me but I’m no expert. What do you guys think it is?

 

[sloth]

@Staehilomyces

 

[Staehilomyces]

Looks like polymorpha, but I could be wrong. Could you ask for a clear pic of the head? Polymorpha has a ringfurrow, which morsitans lacks.

 

[sloth]

Looks like polymorpha, but I could be wrong. Could you ask for a clear pic of the head? Polymorpha has a ringfurrow, which morsitans lacks.

Just sent him an email for a clearer pic.

 

[NYAN]

The terminal legs don’t look morsitans to me. I’ll go with it being a polymorpha.

 

[vyadha]

It looks a lot my polys as well.

 

[BobBarley]

Definitely polymorpha on that one.

 

[sloth]

@NYAN @BobBarley @vyadha @Staehilomyces @Scoly
He sent me a head pic.