Socializing Centipedes

Loops117

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
33
Hello all. Im rather new to owning centipedes. I've had two in the past. One was a Scolapendra sp, the other being a long tailed centipede.I held my long tailed pede many times, but was always afraid to hold the Scolapendra.

Recently i've read a couple posts mentioning that you need to "Spend weeks of socializing before even thinking of free handling". So i did some searching and found a few more posts about Socializing pedes and scorps. I imagine this also works with others as well, but i was hoping you guys could help me out and give a few pointers? I'd LOVE to hold my scolapendra, so any tips on socializing would be swell.

I'd like to socialize my L.parahybana juvi as well.

Thank you.

Edit: Thought i clicked the centipede section. Sorry this is misplaced. Could a mod please move it for me?
 
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AnimalNewbie

Arachnobaron
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Mar 2, 2018
Messages
453
You can socialize centipedes and scolopendra but it doesn't work with scorpions or Tarantulas.
You never told us what species of scolopendra it is too.
 

Chris LXXIX

ArachnoGod
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Dec 25, 2014
Messages
5,845
I'd like to socialize my L.parahybana juvi as well.
I'm 100% certain that your hand, on the other hand (ih ih a word joke) wouldn't like that so much man :pompous:

And btw, even with 'pedes, the risks of escapes and to receive nasty bites are always behind the corner. Yes, there's (very, but very few) users here that tried that, and with nice results, still that risk is always present.
 

Loops117

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
33
You can socialize centipedes and scolopendra but it doesn't work with scorpions or Tarantulas.
You never told us what species of scolopendra it is too.
Really? That's odd as i read someone was socializing their imperator? Not sure as they didn't mention much else.
It was sold as a "Vietnamese giant centipede" and that was it. I know it's Scolapendra sp, but that's as far as that goes.
Here's an image.



I'm 100% certain that your hand, on the other hand (ih ih a word joke) wouldn't like that so much man :pompous:

And btw, even with 'pedes, the risks of escapes and to receive nasty bites are always behind the corner. Yes, there's (very, but very few) users here that tried that, and with nice results, still that risk is always present.
I understand there's always going to be a risk. I've done quite a bit of research on bites, and it seems as though bites delivered during test bites and other instances are very mild when the specimen is not agitated. Could be wrong?
As for the L.parahybana, should i just not try it? I really want to be able to hold my giant girl when she reaches adult sizes, and i really wont try it if i cant trust her as a juvi.
 

Chris LXXIX

ArachnoGod
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I understand there's always going to be a risk. I've done quite a bit of research on bites, and it seems as though bites delivered during test bites and other instances are very mild when the specimen is not agitated. Could be wrong?
Yes, man. I think you are wrong. For a reason: doesn't exist - when Asian 'pedes are concerned - something as a very mild bite. Their venom is brutal, I don't have other words for describe that :)


As for the L.parahybana, should i just not try it? I really want to be able to hold my giant girl when she reaches adult sizes, and i really wont try it if i cant trust her as a juvi.
What you want to do, is basically 'handling', nothing more, nothing less. Do not expect something like 'socializing' or else, 'handling' is nothing but a spider crawling on your hand :)
 

Loops117

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
33
Yes, man. I think you are wrong. For a reason: doesn't exist - when Asian 'pedes are concerned - something as a very mild bite. Their venom is brutal, I don't have other words for describe that :)

Hmm, that's really odd. I've read multiple times on here that people have been bitten by their S.heros as well as others and depending on their attitude during the bite, their reaction was either very mild or very intense.


What you want to do, is basically 'handling', nothing more, nothing less. Do not expect something like 'socializing' or else, 'handling' is nothing but a spider crawling on your hand :)
Oh really? I was overthinking it. Thought maybe i had to use my hand for feeding or something, maybe hold their enclosure in my hand and get them used to subtle movements and vibrations. Youtube video said to just make your hand/arm part of the flooring they're crawling across, and you'll have no problems. This guy was also holding a giant red like it was a pet rat snake.

As for handling, that's exactly what i meant. Im not trying to get my collection to do tricks or chill in my pocket, just crawl across the hands on occasion. Maybe lay down holding a bouquet of flowers and pose for a picture for valentines day, but nothing crazy.
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
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Dec 23, 2017
Messages
2,511
That’s a dehanni. I would read some bite reports before you consider handling it. Also, I hope that’s not it’s perminant enclosure because it’s way too small. Go on YouTube and watch thepurelife’s videos on socializing Pedes.
 

Loops117

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
33
That’s a dehanni. I would read some bite reports before you consider handling it. Also, I hope that’s not it’s perminant enclosure because it’s way too small. Go on YouTube and watch thepurelife’s videos on socializing Pedes.
Thank you very much, i'll go check out the reports now. As for it's container, that was what it was bought in. It's now living in a much larger enclosure with plenty of substrate to dig in.
 

AnimalNewbie

Arachnobaron
Joined
Mar 2, 2018
Messages
453
Thank you very much, i'll go check out the reports now. As for it's container, that was what it was bought in. It's now living in a much larger enclosure with plenty of substrate to dig in.
I wouldn’t handle the dehanni. The venom isn’t brutal and trust me it’ll hurt. I wouldn’t bother with the LP because of those hairs the mechanical damage the bite could do and to prevent the risk of rupturing the abdomen.
 

Loops117

Arachnopeon
Joined
May 21, 2016
Messages
33
Ok cool! It was a fun thought while it lasted!
I've never tried holding them in the past and i don't mind continuing that.
My scorps are prolly the exact same way. Here goes to "Hand" rearing a baby.

So really all i can hold is my Rhysida longipes and Phiddipus regius.
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
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Dec 23, 2017
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Ok cool! It was a fun thought while it lasted!
I've never tried holding them in the past and i don't mind continuing that.
My scorps are prolly the exact same way. Here goes to "Hand" rearing a baby.

So really all i can hold is my Rhysida longipes and Phiddipus regius.
Buy a heros or a giant species.
 

Chris LXXIX

ArachnoGod
Joined
Dec 25, 2014
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Oh really? I was overthinking it. Thought maybe i had to use my hand for feeding or something, maybe hold their enclosure in my hand and get them used to subtle movements and vibrations. Youtube video said to just make your hand/arm part of the flooring they're crawling across, and you'll have no problems. This guy was also holding a giant red like it was a pet rat snake.
Don't trust too much YT vids on that sense. Such platform is ok for music, movie/game trailers, whatever... but definitely the reliable persons - arachnids/inverts talking - present are less in numbers than the fingers remained in the hands of an old and skilled retired carpenter :pompous:


As for handling, that's exactly what i meant. Im not trying to get my collection to do tricks or chill in my pocket, just crawl across the hands on occasion. Maybe lay down holding a bouquet of flowers and pose for a picture for valentines day, but nothing crazy.
:rolleyes:
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
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For some reason This thread is in the true spiders section of the forum?
 

Staehilomyces

Arachnoprince
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Bit late to the party here, but I'll add my 2c anyway.

If you're going to socialise a centipede (and mark my words, it can be very fun if done right), don't do it with a dehaani, especially as a novice. I suggest polymorpha, E. trigonopodus or morsitans. Heros is apparently good too, but it is rather more potent than the aforementioned three.
 

Staehilomyces

Arachnoprince
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I'd also like to add that the socialisation process doesn't take *as* long as I used to say it did, and sometimes, depending on how comfortable you are, jumping straight into freehandling can yield the best results.
 

Mirandarachnid

Arachnobaron
Joined
Nov 11, 2017
Messages
532
I've been very interested in this topic as well, I was probably going to post this exact thread sometime in the next few days (I, however, have no desire to handle my LP, that guy is a little monster and kicks hairs for fun :rofl:)

@Staehilomyces, do you have a video or post with the steps you take to socialize your pede's? I've watched some of thepurelife's videos where he kind of goes over it, but I'd like something a little more in depth before I start the process.
 

StampFan

Arachnodemon
Joined
Jul 12, 2017
Messages
756
I've been very interested in this topic as well, I was probably going to post this exact thread sometime in the next few days (I, however, have no desire to handle my LP, that guy is a little monster and kicks hairs for fun :rofl:)

@Staehilomyces, do you have a video or post with the steps you take to socialize your pede's? I've watched some of thepurelife's videos where he kind of goes over it, but I'd like something a little more in depth before I start the process.
I also watched a vid with that guy where he appears to be tagged like 20 times in about 5 minutes, would like to watch a vid from a sane human being.....
 

NYAN

Arachnoking
Joined
Dec 23, 2017
Messages
2,511
I've been very interested in this topic as well, I was probably going to post this exact thread sometime in the next few days (I, however, have no desire to handle my LP, that guy is a little monster and kicks hairs for fun :rofl:)

@Staehilomyces, do you have a video or post with the steps you take to socialize your pede's? I've watched some of thepurelife's videos where he kind of goes over it, but I'd like something a little more in depth before I start the process.

What I did was while the pede was exploring its enclosure and doing centipede stuff I had my hands in there. The pede would walk over my hands, test bite a few times, get my scent and not associate me as a threat. A bit later I would let it walk onto my hand and I held it while it was inside the enclosure. Eventually I would handle it and pet it. Now I can take it out daily and handle it, pet it etc. I’ve also just started handling them straight away and they ended up becoming socialized.
 
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