Texas Golden Millipede (Orthoporus orantus) Care

[ecologyboi6711]

Hey folks! I recently got a texas golden millipede (absolutely gorgeous) and just wanted to ask some general care questions to make sure im doing everything right! I am feeding it veggies (broccoli atm) and its substrate is moist at the bottom but more dry on the top. The substrate is "dig-it" from Josh's Frogs and I just ordered some calcium to mix in with it. There are two cork hides in it and the substrate is 4-5" thick. The temperature is between 70-80 and I plan on misting it every two days. Any other care tips or advice or "no-no's"? I appreciate all your help!

 

[LizardStudent]

A picture will always help people comment on the setup, how big is the pede? Great rule of thumb is that the substrate should be at least as deep as the pede is long

 

[goliathusdavid]

As @LizardStudent said, a picture is always nice, but from your posting that sound like a pretty good set up. Personally I like to add some dried leaves at the top (even for Orthoporus which would not necessarily encounter them) as the millies will nibble at them. Though a substrate depth of 6" is ideal for this species (they can grow up to this length) it is possible for them to thrive at 5 inches or so with the right amount of horizontal space. What does your ventilation look like? For this species, the more the better, though you might have to up misting to daily.

 

[ecologyboi6711]

Makes sense! Currently the pede is in a large kritter keeper, will upgrade it to a 10 gallon when it gets larger. He is only like 5 inches in lentht and the kritter keeper is 13 inches in length so i am good there. I will up misting to daily though since the ventilation is pretty good with the plastic top. Here is an image! (one of the kritter keeper and one of the pede : ) )

 

[ecologyboi6711]

Makes sense! Currently the pede is in a large kritter keeper, will upgrade it to a 10 gallon when it gets larger. He is only like 5 inches in lentht and the kritter keeper is 13 inches in length so i am good there. I will up misting to daily though since the ventilation is pretty good with the plastic top. Here is an image! (one of the kritter keeper and one of the pede : ) )

The substrate is also 4 inches deep

 

[Sterls]

Looks like you've done your research. Personally I've never really misted mine though. I just make sure the bottom layers have moisture.

 

[goliathusdavid]

Good setup! I think you are set for success!

 

[LizardStudent]

Beautiful pede, I agree with adding a bit of leaf litter but really i think you're set. Mine was always a climber too and took advantage of any branches i gave it

 

[Matts inverts]

I would easily rotted wood like cholla and grape vine. I like cholla because they naturally encounter it in there habitat and it just looks cool. I would also add fruit into the diet but your care is perfect.

 

[Scoly]

One thing to know is that your odds of successfully breeding them are extremely low. Here's a good thread:

Orthoporus ornatus -- the other nine months of the year

So far as we know, no one has successfully had Orthoporus ornatus reproduce in captivity. In talking with people who live where these millipedes are native and reading some old studies on their role in the ecosystem, it came to my attention that in the wild, these millipedes are dormant for much...

arachnoboards.com

 

[goliathusdavid]

One thing to know is that your odds of successfully breeding them are extremely low. Here's a good thread:

Orthoporus ornatus -- the other nine months of the year

So far as we know, no one has successfully had Orthoporus ornatus reproduce in captivity. In talking with people who live where these millipedes are native and reading some old studies on their role in the ecosystem, it came to my attention that in the wild, these millipedes are dormant for much...

arachnoboards.com

Profoundly true. Breeding of this species is a challenge many have taken on, but I don't know a single person who has accomplished such a feat and successfully documented it. I would love to see that change, but given how difficult it is to mimic their natural conditions I think that's unlikely. It's also not an issue right now but I worry that in future the inability to breed this species in captivity combined with its growing popularity could lead to over collecting.
Such a fun species to keep and handle, even if they don't reproduce in captivity.

 

[LizardStudent]

Profoundly true. Breeding of this species is a challenge many have taken on, but I don't know a single person who has accomplished such a feat and successfully documented it. I would love to see that change, but given how difficult it is to mimic their natural conditions I think that's unlikely. It's also not an issue right now but I worry that in future the inability to breed this species in captivity combined with its growing popularity could lead to over collecting.
Such a fun species to keep and handle, even if they don't reproduce in captivity.

Funny you mention, just last week I spotted this post (https://beetleforum.net/topic/5066-baby-orthoporus-ornatus/) on the beetle forums that someone got some first gen ornatus babies after witnessing their pedes exhibiting breeding behaviors

 

[goliathusdavid]

VERY interesting. Will have to keep an eye on that thread. It's still an incredibly rare occurance however, and we will have to see how the babies develop. Will definitely want to see that care guide. I don't mean to sound cynical, but I am taking this with a grain of salt as I know a couple of scientists working on this, none of whom have had success. But yes, will definitely watch that one. Thank you for sharing @LizardStudent !

 

[Smotzer]

VERY interesting. Will have to keep an eye on that thread. It's still an incredibly rare occurance however, and we will have to see how the babies develop. Will definitely want to see that care guide. I don't mean to sound cynical, but I am taking this with a grain of salt as I know a couple of scientists working on this, none of whom have had success. But yes, will definitely watch that one. Thank you for sharing @LizardStudent !

I wonder if I collected some and created a natural environment type tub for the O. orantus and kept them outside here in Texas if they would have any better chance at breeding

 

[goliathusdavid]

Worth a try, just not right now

 

[LizardStudent]

VERY interesting. Will have to keep an eye on that thread. It's still an incredibly rare occurance however, and we will have to see how the babies develop. Will definitely want to see that care guide. I don't mean to sound cynical, but I am taking this with a grain of salt as I know a couple of scientists working on this, none of whom have had success. But yes, will definitely watch that one. Thank you for sharing @LizardStudent !

I agree it is rare, and I'm still interested to see how they will be reared, if they'll make it to adulthood etc. If the scientists you know have published any papers on their breeding attempts and the likes, I would LOVE to read them. Any links or directories would be appreciated if you are aware of them

 

[Matts inverts]

When they first shipped them to Europe, some of them bread in captivity but it’s very rare. I want to get a 50 gallon and try to bread them. I tried adding stuff they would find like shrub oak leaf litter and cholla wood and I want to try feeding prickly pear fruit.

 

[goliathusdavid]

I agree it is rare, and I'm still interested to see how they will be reared, if they'll make it to adulthood etc. If the scientists you know have published any papers on their breeding attempts and the likes, I would LOVE to read them. Any links or directories would be appreciated if you are aware of them

No papers yet (these folks are pretty secretive) but I will post when they publish!

 

[LizardStudent]

When they first shipped them to Europe, some of them bread in captivity but it’s very rare. I want to get a 50 gallon and try to bread them. I tried adding stuff they would find like shrub oak leaf litter and cholla wood and I want to try feeding prickly pear fruit.

That would be neat, I would try to get the substrate as close to their natural, like sonoran desert soil, as possible. I'm wondering if factors like soil acidity and the like could have an effect on their breeding behaviors

 

[Matts inverts]

Some say to mix sand with it for the desert soil