Why did my millipedes die?

[Abwettar]

I hope someone here can give me some ideas on my millies, I'm gutted...

I've had 10 millipedes for around a year now, all healthy and growing. A mix of Burmese beauties, bumblebees and fire Reds. I've never had any problems with them.

I went away for two weeks and while I was gone my gran was checking up on them. I'd asked her to get some substrate for them while I was gone. I normally take old leaves from the garden from the trees and boil them before putting them in. While I was gone I think she has just been plucking leaves from random plants in the garden and also not treating them in any way.

I've come back and my three bumblebees are all laid at the top of the substrate, all stretched out and stiff. One of them is still hanging onto life and wiggles it's little legs when moved but that's all. I read that they curl up when they moult so it can't be that surely... And they go floppy when they're dying? The one that's still moving a little isn't floppy, it's quite stiff and only it's legs move.

There's no sign at all of my fire reds, not even the little exoskeletons... Which is strange.

But I have found two Burmese and they both look very healthy. The biggest one is running about no problem.

I wondered can certain plants prove fatal if eaten by millipedes?

I also noticed there's and massive outbreak of woodlouse in there (pill bugs) which I'm guessing is just because the plants haven't been treat? But can they cause problems for the millies?

I'm so heartbroken. Just want to know what's happened...

I'll get fresh substrate and clean out the tank ASAP, and hopefully I can save the two I found, and hopefully I can find the missing millies.

 

[LawnShrimp]

First off, if the substrate has never been changed in a year and there are 10 millipedes and a herd of woodlice in there, the millipedes could be dying of starvation. Bumblebees are prone to randomly dying off as they have a very short lifespan (although they replicate themselves a hundredfold in that time), and it may just be that your few were getting on in age and the lack of nutrition didn't help. The fire reds (Centrobolus?) are possibly molting en masse, I have noticed millipedes from one locality will all molt at the same time and emerge together as well. As for the BBs, they are possibly one of the most bulletproof millis and can practically survive on dust and water as depleted substrate fails to bother them for a while.

The leaves that your gran put in there might have something to do with the 'sickness', but all species here can stand a little green foliage now and then. Instead, they might have served to feed the woodlice to plague proportions.

 

[mickiem]

There could have been toxins on the leaves that led to the deaths. If you have a lot of isopods, they could have scavenged the entire bodies of the fires. It's curious that the Burmese Beauties have survived and are seemingly doing well. I would most certainly put them in 100% fresh, new substrate. Maybe ask grandma which leaves she used? Was there any pine or resinous type debris used?

 

[mickiem]

You know, this could have nothing to do with food. Did the enclosure dry out while you were gone?

 

[LawnShrimp]

You know, this could have nothing to do with food. Did the enclosure dry out while you were gone?

Ah, moisture is an important factor. Extreme dry and soaking substrate can dehydrate and drown millipedes. Temperature is also an important factor, millipedes are more easily overheated than they are chilled.