Texas Gold Millipede!

[harbles]

Hey!

I'm new here and I have a question regarding my new Texas Gold.

I know they are nocturnal, but how in the world do you tell that they're eating? He gets fresh fruits and veggies every day, but I can only assume because he eats so little that it's hard to tell.

I just want to make sure he's eating!

Thanks!

 

[Spepper]

Welcome to the boards!

I always see my Florida Ivory millipedes on their food so that's how I tell, but if your milli won't come out in daylight just check for very small indentations on or on the edges of the food. They don't eat very much but if you look very closely you'll see it. Also look for droppings around the food, that's also a tell-take sign. Hope I could help you, but maybe you will get more responses if you put this in the correct place... (Myriapods)

 

[harbles]

Thanks! I'm gonna check his food. His name is Slinky Toes, btw.

What do their droppings look like?

 

[Spepper]

Haha, Slinky Toes. That's a good name.

Their droppings look like little round balls of dirt... a bit like rabbit droppings if you know what those look like but smaller and not as perfectly round.

 

[harbles]

I definitely know what rabbit crap looks like, haha.

---------- Post added 02-06-2014 at 09:12 PM ----------

I just checked on him and he had passed. I didn't even have him a week.

 

[Spepper]

I'm sorry for your loss!

 

[harbles]

Thank you.

 

[MrCrackerpants]

Sorry for your loss. Do not beat yourself up. This is a very hard species to keep in captivity. They are all wild caught. I live in their native habitat and they walk all over my yard. They do not last very long in captivity. I see people collect 5 gallon aquariums full of them and then mail them all over the country or drive to reptile expos and sell them there. This is bad for the long term survival of this awesome species. Their numbers are being impacted in their natural ecosystem. You have made your post in the "Insects, Other Invertebrates & Arthropods" forum. Check out the "Myriapods" forum. That is where all the millipede information is. You will find a lot of information on very hardy captive bred species and how to care for them properly. Enter into some discussions and learn as much as you can. Millipedes are awesome pets. Please don't let one event with a species that doesn't last very long in captivity discourage you from getting a good captive bred hardy species. Good luck.:biggrin:

 

[harbles]

Thank you so much! I'm sad to learn they are wild caught.

I will definitely do some more research and see if there isn't a more hardy species I fall in love with.

Thanks again!

 

[MrCrackerpants]

Thank you so much! I'm sad to learn they are wild caught.

I will definitely do some more research and see if there isn't a more hardy species I fall in love with.

Thanks again!

You are welcome. You will find one. bugsincyberspace.com (i.e., Peter Clausen) offers a nice selection of captive bred millipedes. He is very helpful. The other deals will also (if you ask) tell you if they are captive bred if you want to go that way.

 

[kellixo]

Sorry for your loss


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[Spepper]

Thank you so much! I'm sad to learn they are wild caught.

I will definitely do some more research and see if there isn't a more hardy species I fall in love with.

Thanks again!

Actually harbles when I was trying to decide on a millipede that I liked I decided I wanted "long and pretty", haha. Those millis definitely fit the bill there. Thankfully I got an account on here first and asked members what they thought of that species and when I realized how difficult they were going to be to keep alive I settled on Florida Ivory millipedes (Chicobolus spinigerus) which breed easily in captivity and are very hardy. One of them is my avatar right to the left of this post. They don't get as long as the one you had but are definitely pretty, moreso in person with their vibrant black and white coloration. I'm not saying what you did was wrong, just don't get too discouraged since Texas Gold millis are hard to keep for anyone.

 

[harbles]

I really appreciate all the help guys!
Your milli looks so cute! I'll definitely look into them! I just love all their little legs. ^_^

It's good to know that I didn't totally murder Slinky Toes.

Thanks again!