What do millipede exos look like

[Georgia B]

So I got about a dozen N. americanus in September. Since then, I have found three dead. Laying on the surface stiff and unquestionably dead. I have also found remains of two others in or partially in the substrate, but they are hollow and in pieces. Are these exoskeletons left over from molting? Or do their insides decompose when they are in the moist sub? One of these hollow ones had a bit of black slime all along the inside which is what leads me to believe it might have been rotten milli guts.

How do they molt? Do they split along the back and get out that way? Cause that’s not what I found. The remains I found were like sections of a tube.

 

[Aquarimax]

Those sound like dead millipedes to me, although millipede molts, in my experience, are rarely if ever in one piece, at least for long. They don’t tend to last a long time either, from what I have noticed.

 

[Polenth]

The ones I've seen look like they've peeled a thin layer off the outside, rather than looking like a millipede. They were split rather than a tube. They didn't have any slime or other fluids on them. If anything, it looked more like dry paper in the shape of a millipede. The millipedes also ate them pretty quickly.

 

[chanda]

Millipede molts are spilt down the back - but it is rare to find them because centipedes and millipedes usually eat their old exoskeletons following a molt.

When you find intact, tube-like hollow pieces, those are the remains of dead millipedes. They decompose pretty quickly, particularly if buried in moist sub, leaving just bits of their exoskeleton behind .

How are you keeping your millipedes? (Type and size of container, substrate, moisture levels, ventilation, food or other supplements)?

It has been my experience that millipedes kept in an enclosure that is too wet, too dry, or too stuffy will die eventually. Also, while they will eat veggies, they can't survive for long on just those. They also need decaying wood and calcium supplements. The calcium can be something like a chunk of cuttlebone for them to chew on, or calcium dust sprinkled on the substrate or the veggies.

If you post pictures of your enclosure and provide additional details, someone may be able to point out what is causing your millipedes to die, so you can fix it.

 

[Georgia B]

Ok, thanks. Here are some pics of the enclosure. I have tried to follow all the instructions I could find from experienced people online.

The sub is half soil/coco husk, and the other half is decomposed wood I purchased from Bugs in Cyberspace, disintegrated oak pellets meant for bbq-ing (chemical free), crushed elm and oak leaves, a little bit of sand (from my kids’ sandbox) and a crushed cuttlebone. The sub is moist top to bottom. Sometimes it dries out a bit at the top but not much.

There’s a piece of spongy wood on top (the person who gave it to me told me it was oak and I have no reason not to believe them) and the leaves which you can see. Plus I leave a water dish in there.

All the wood, leaves, and sand has been pasteurized in my oven or microwave.

At the moment the millis are enjoying some squash but I also give them cucumber, apple, etc, always peeled.

There is a row of ventilation holes all around the top, but the lid doesn’t really snap down so there’s more ventilation around the lid as well.

Did I miss anything?

 

[mickiem]

It looks pretty good! Sounds like you have received some sound advice. What were the ingredients in the potting soil? Either that or the age or health of the millipedes when you got them would be the only reason I could see here that you could be losing them. It might be a little too moist; it's hard to tell in a photo. But the substrate looks "heavy".

I agree with the way others have described the molting process/ remains. I have seen a molt once that included a complete ring, but this is highly unusual. Usually you just see translucent sections. I believe they slit along the sides, but in any event, it is typically in two halves. Also, most millipedes molt under the surface and eat the exuvium before you even see it. Thai rainbows, Philippine blues, T. aoutii are some notorious surface molters; Narceus, not so much.

Best of luck, it is a fun hobby!

 

[Georgia B]

Yeah thanks... I’d be having more fun if I wasn’t on death watch. I did think about the soil quality, but the bag doesn’t list any ingredients and as far as I can tell from the labelling it’s just ordinary soil. Millis are very hard to come by around here though, so I guess I’ll start from scratch with a different brand anyhow, in a last ditch effort to save the ones I have left. I’ve got some oak pellets brewing with some yeast so hopefully soon that’ll be decomposed enough to be useful. It’s pretty frustrating I gotta say...but they’re such sweet little guys...

 

[Georgia B]

Ok so for a lark I just googled “supersoil” and turns out that means it’s been highly amended with nutrients; even if they are from natural and organic sources (which I have no idea since as I said there’s no ingredients list on my bag) they’re probably not so good for invertebrate pets...ugh I’m so mad at myself. I thought it was just a stupid marketing word! I mean it’s just no-name cheap stuff, I didn’t know supersoil was a thing! Well now I know what I’m doing with my day tomorrow.