Vietnamese Centipede randomly died

[nzf7]

I’m writing this because I’m curious for my 13yr old son. He has had his giant vc for almost a year. He has been awesome. He eats small mice and roaches. Has always been healthy. Lately there have been small flys in his enclosure. Today while walking by I saw mushrooms growing on the side and yelled to my son. He went to check on Leonidis and he is dead. Does anyone have any clue what may have happened? I thought maybe over moisture. He recently added additional substrate. So sad. He was an awesome pet. Thanks in advance for any advice. We haven’t looked over his body yet to see if there is any marks, discoloration or anything.

 

[Isopods others]

Usually mushrooms are a good sign in a terrarium but when growing off of your invert are bad, this fungus is probably what killed your invert and are just now sending fruiting bodies to disperse spores

 

[nzf7]

Usually mushrooms are a good sign in a terrarium but when growing off of your invert are bad, this fungus is probably what killed your invert and are just now sending fruiting bodies to disperse spores

The mushrooms were growing on the side of the tank not on the VC. But it was strange because they have never grown in his tank before. Thanks so much for your response.

 

[l4nsky]

Usually mushrooms are a good sign in a terrarium but when growing off of your invert are bad, this fungus is probably what killed your invert and are just now sending fruiting bodies to disperse spores

If you're implying that this fungus is a potential parasitic Cordyceps species that caused the death of the pede, I'm afraid the odds of that being true are astronomically low given that it's a long term captive and OP isn't in the native range of the pede or any specialized fungi that would target it. Now if you're referring to death by mycosis from a more generalized species, then this is highly likely, but the fruiting bodies (mushrooms) might not be the same species that infected the pede, only an opportunistic decomposer.

@nzf7, pictures of the enclosure would be helpful in giving you a root cause. As a side note, while readily available and cheap, S. dehaani and/or sometimes S. subspinipes aka "Vietnames Giant Centipedes" in the hobby are NOT recommended for beginners or younger kids. They're extremely fast, willing to bite, and the venom is no joke. It has the potential to put you in the hospital and IIRC there has been one confirmed fatality in their native range (S. subspinipes). Aside from that, they have some pretty specific care requirements that sadly most people don't or can't meet. As such, they tend to die prematurely due to conditions like mycosis.

 

[coolnweird]

Usually mushrooms are a good sign in a terrarium but when growing off of your invert are bad, this fungus is probably what killed your invert and are just now sending fruiting bodies to disperse spores

I've never known a fungus to be capable of killing an invert. Typically they just move in after the critter dies

 

[nzf7]

If you're implying that this fungus is a potential parasitic Cordyceps species that caused the death of the pede, I'm afraid the odds of that being true are astronomically low given that it's a long term captive and OP isn't in the native range of the pede or any specialized fungi that would target it. Now if you're referring to death by mycosis from a more generalized species, then this is highly likely, but the fruiting bodies (mushrooms) might not be the same species that infected the pede, only an opportunistic decomposer.

@nzf7, pictures of the enclosure would be helpful in giving you a root cause. As a side note, while readily available and cheap, S. dehaani and/or sometimes S. subspinipes aka "Vietnames Giant Centipedes" in the hobby are NOT recommended for beginners or younger kids. They're extremely fast, willing to bite, and the venom is no joke. It has the potential to put you in the hospital and IIRC there has been one confirmed fatality in their native range (S. subspinipes). Aside from that, they have some pretty specific care requirements that sadly most people don't or can't meet. As such, they tend to die prematurely due to conditions like mycosis.

Thanks for your response! I just added some pictures. Please let me now your thoughts.

 

[l4nsky]

View attachment 443118


Thanks for your response! I just added some pictures. Please let me now your thoughts.

What substrate are you using?