JAFUENTES
Arachnodragon
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2014
- Messages
- 218
How does one determine the gender of a centipiede? Don't know how?
Sexing centipiedes
- Thread starter JAFUENTES
- Start date
Their sexual organs are hidden in their last body segment (tergite/sternite). To reveal them, you need to knock them out and manually make them prolapse.
I do this by putting them in a deli cup with one hole in the lid, then using a soda maker to pump carbon dioxide through the hole. As carbon dioxide is heavier than oxygen, it settles to the bottom and the centipede passes out pretty quickly. Once they're out cold, remove the limp centipede carefully and flip them over. Use a Q-tip to gently press on the last segment until the organs prolapse, then take a few pictures. You need to do this quickly and carefully because 1) they can wake up in a minute or two, and 2) their limp bodies can be very delicate from lack of turgor pressure.
There are plenty of centipede sexing pictures for the various species in the hobby if you do some Googling.
I do this by putting them in a deli cup with one hole in the lid, then using a soda maker to pump carbon dioxide through the hole. As carbon dioxide is heavier than oxygen, it settles to the bottom and the centipede passes out pretty quickly. Once they're out cold, remove the limp centipede carefully and flip them over. Use a Q-tip to gently press on the last segment until the organs prolapse, then take a few pictures. You need to do this quickly and carefully because 1) they can wake up in a minute or two, and 2) their limp bodies can be very delicate from lack of turgor pressure.
There are plenty of centipede sexing pictures for the various species in the hobby if you do some Googling.