Why do you feed your centipedes fruit and other stuff?

[mellow]

I have seen people feed big centipedes chicken and fruit and even baby food, my first question is why should I feed my centipedes anything other than the normal feeders? My second question is what species will actually eat this stuff? My third question is I have seen the bigger scolopendra eat this stuff but what about something smaller like a scolopendra polymorpha will they eat any of this stuff? And my fourth question is what should I feed to my S. heros arizonensis S. dehaani and S. polymorpha? And my fifth question is should I dust a normal feeder with that calcium powder for reptiles every once in a while?

 

[Bill S]

I have seen people feed big centipedes chicken and fruit and even baby food, my first question is why should I feed my centipedes anything other than the normal feeders?

"Normal" for you is not normal for wild centipedes. Anything you feed them in captivity will be different than what they would normally feed on in the wild. It's mostly a matter of convenience for people, and partly a matter of not having a clue what they actually eat in nature. One of our local species (S. heros) has been seen feeding on dead bats and road-kill snakes in the wild, but I don't know of anybody who feeds them this in captivity.

My second question is what species will actually eat this stuff? My third question is I have seen the bigger scolopendra eat this stuff but what about something smaller like a scolopendra polymorpha will they eat any of this stuff?

I have not tried feeding my centipedes fruit, but the species that I've seen eagerly take baby food include S. heros (various color morphs), S. polymorpha, S. dehaani (various forms), S. subspinipes, S. mutilans, S. japonica and S. hainanum. (Those are the ones that come to mind right now - I know I'm overlooking something.) I always start babies on baby food, simply because it's the easiest for them to eat - they don't have to kill it, they aren't going to get injured by it. They usually grow fairly quickly on it, and when they are big enough I start offering live food as well.

And my fourth question is what should I feed to my S. heros arizonensis S. dehaani and S. polymorpha?

A variety of foods. There is no particular food that is good enough all by itself.

 

[mellow]

"Normal" for you is not normal for wild centipedes. Anything you feed them in captivity will be different than what they would normally feed on in the wild. It's mostly a matter of convenience for people, and partly a matter of not having a clue what they actually eat in nature. One of our local species (S. heros) has been seen feeding on dead bats and road-kill snakes in the wild, but I don't know of anybody who feeds them this in captivity.


I have not tried feeding my centipedes fruit, but the species that I've seen eagerly take baby food include S. heros (various color morphs), S. polymorpha, S. dehaani (various forms), S. subspinipes, S. mutilans, S. japonica and S. hainanum. (Those are the ones that come to mind right now - I know I'm overlooking something.) I always start babies on baby food, simply because it's the easiest for them to eat - they don't have to kill it, they aren't going to get injured by it. They usually grow fairly quickly on it, and when they are big enough I start offering live food as well.


A variety of foods. There is no particular food that is good enough all by itself.

Thanks for answering my questions! What kind of baby food do you feed them?

 

[ignithium]

I use also dog food because where i live they do not sell baby food

 

[DomGom TheFather]

I use also dog food because where i live they do not sell baby food

I mean... You can make baby food.
But Where do you live?!
Babies eating dog food? Oh, my.

 

[Bill S]

Thanks for answering my questions! What kind of baby food do you feed them?

I use Gerber's chicken and gravy. I've noticed that some of my centipedes get spoiled, and will ignore crickets and hold out for baby food sometimes. I just put a little baby food in a bottle cap and leave it in the cage overnight. Some of my centipedes are relaxed enough that I can put the bottle cap in front of them and they'll immediately dig in and start eating.

 

[mellow]

I remember hearing something about feeding centipedes with calcium dusted feeders every once in a while, but I don't know if that is a good idea or not, I have heard that it's not good for tarantulas or scorpions, but is it good for centipedes? Do any of you feed your centipedes calcium dusted feeders?

 

[ignithium]

I mean... You can make baby food.
But Where do you live?!
Babies eating dog food? Oh, my.

Well, I am from Russia. Here, we feed babies with milk from a woman's breast, as god intended. I suppose this could also work with centipedes, but I have yet to find a girl who is amenable to this suggestion

 

[EpicEpic]

Well, I am from Russia. Here, we feed babies with milk from a woman's breast, as god intended. I suppose this could also work with centipedes, but I have yet to find a girl who is amenable to this suggestion

I've been to Russia. They sell baby food lol!!!

Lots and lots of Vodka!!!...but baby food too

 

[AddisonH]

I have seen people feed big centipedes chicken and fruit and even baby food, my first question is why should I feed my centipedes anything other than the normal feeders? My second question is what species will actually eat this stuff? My third question is I have seen the bigger scolopendra eat this stuff but what about something smaller like a scolopendra polymorpha will they eat any of this stuff? And my fourth question is what should I feed to my S. heros arizonensis S. dehaani and S. polymorpha? And my fifth question is should I dust a normal feeder with that calcium powder for reptiles every once in a while?

My S. Polymorpha absolutely love repashy crested gecko food as a treat! Same with my Dehaani! Sorry to see people hassling you on here. Wish they would go somewhere else... lol

 

[DomGom TheFather]

I remember hearing something about feeding centipedes with calcium dusted feeders every once in a while, but I don't know if that is a good idea or not, I have heard that it's not good for tarantulas or scorpions, but is it good for centipedes? Do any of you feed your centipedes calcium dusted feeders?

I wouldn't dust for any arthropod. I never have.
I don't think it is beneficial for centipedes, either.
One question down.

 

[mellow]

Thanks everyone for answering my questions and helping me out!

Edit: I just fed my centipedes that chicken and gravy baby food and they loved it!

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Thanks everyone for answering my questions and helping me out!

I know I wasn't that helpful and the topic wasn't really within my wheelhouse but thanks for the conversation.
..
Oh, Christ.
It's almost eleven at night on a Saturday and I am alone, in the dark, talking about bugs on the internet again...

God damn it!

 

[MrGhostMantis]

I know I wasn't that helpful and the topic wasn't really within my wheelhouse but thanks for the conversation.
..
Oh, Christ.
It's almost eleven at night on a Saturday and I am alone, in the dark, talking about bugs on the internet again...

God damn it!

Mate, I did this several times until 2AM

 

[Quetzalcoatl Nyarlathotep]

To answer your first question, a variety of food items will offer far more nutrition than to simply feed them crickets. 2) I believe most centipede species exhibit this behavior including scutigeromorpha. 3) at the risk of sounding redundant, even the little stone centipedes I've found up here scavenge for whatever they can munch on. 4) I prefer catching my own feeder insects, usually the cellar spiders I find killing off native species in my area. For the larger dragons, I prefer giving a 25/50/25 diet of cheese, any meat without added chemicals (i.e. road kill racoon) and decent sized various insects. 5) I tend to stay away from the crickets in the summer at least where I live anyways because pesticides are banned in my town so I take advantage of the plentiful times and save my cricket money for the autumn and winter months when no freerange field crickets can be found.

 

[MrDeranged]

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[MrDeranged]

I have seen people feed big centipedes chicken and fruit and even baby food, my first question is why should I feed my centipedes anything other than the normal feeders? My second question is what species will actually eat this stuff? My third question is I have seen the bigger scolopendra eat this stuff but what about something smaller like a scolopendra polymorpha will they eat any of this stuff? And my fourth question is what should I feed to my S. heros arizonensis S. dehaani and S. polymorpha? And my fifth question is should I dust a normal feeder with that calcium powder for reptiles every once in a while?

Seems like most of your questions have already been answered. As for using calcium powder on feeders, I vaguely remember sort of a consensus being reached that dusting feeders with calcium pretty much doesn't contribute anything to myriapods' eating them well being and/or health. If I'm wrong or if a new consensus has been reached, please feel free to correct me.

Back when I was keeping pedes, they were regularly fed crickets. If I was feeling particularly sadistic that day and the pede was large enough, they would occasionally get a live pinky mouse. I've grown up a bit since then and would not subject a live pinky to that and wouldn't suggest anyone else does. It was quite cruel and was not deserved.

Always feel free to ask as many questions as you want in a post (as long as they're about the same general topic), there is no limit. Many of our users are more than capable of answering more than one question at a time in a single post.

Regards,
MrD

 

[moricollins]

Seems like most of your questions have already been answered. As for using calcium powder on feeders, I vaguely remember sort of a consensus being reached that dusting feeders with calcium pretty much doesn't contribute anything to myriapods' eating them well being and/or health. If I'm wrong or if a new consensus has been reached, please feel free to correct me.

Back when I was keeping pedes, they were regularly fed crickets. If I was feeling particularly sadistic that day and the pede was large enough, they would occasionally get a live pinky mouse. I've grown up a bit since then and would not subject a live pinky to that and wouldn't suggest anyone else does. It was quite cruel and was not deserved.

I only ever used crickets/ mealworms/ superworms for my centipedes, there was almost no discussion of using baby food, chicken, etc. back then . I never dusted feeders for invertebrates since they don't typically consume the outside of the prey item.

Always feel free to ask as many questions as you want in a post (as long as they're about the same general topic), there is no limit. Many of our users are more than capable of answering more than one question at a time in a single post.

Regards,
MrD

On this one, if you number the questions it makes it easier for people replying so they can just put the number down and then the response