Millipede Care, My Experiences in Zoos, & an Arboreal Millipede “Emergency”

[findiviglio]

Hi All,

Millipedes (Order Diplopoda) are among the most diverse yet least studied of all invertebrates. There are enough millipedes to keep generations of fans happy – over 12,000 species have been described so far, and we know little about most! Many species make hardy pets that adjust well to small enclosures and may even breed. All are quite intriguing - while working with arboreal South American millipedes at the Bronx Zoo, I was even involved in a mysterious “millipede emergency”…please see this article A Millipede Emergency: the Dark Side of a Peaceful Terrarium Invertebrate - Part 1 for details.

The following information can be applied to the commonly-kept African Giant Millipede (Achispirospreptus gigas) and many of the others that appear in the trade from time to time. Several millipedes native to the USA, such as Narceus americanus, are also large and brightly-colored…all are ignored by zoos and deserve more attention from hobbyists. Husbandry details will vary…please post below for information on individual species.
Read more here How to Care for African Giant Millipedes and Their Relatives
Please also check out my posts on Twitter http://bitly.com/JP27Nj.

Thanks, Frank
My Bio, with photos of animals I’ve been lucky enough to work with That Pet Place welcomes Zoologist/Herpetologist Frank Indiviglio to That Reptile Blog | That Reptile Blog
Face Book http://on.fb.me/KckP1m

[flybyferns]

Thank You , Frank

[findiviglio]

Thank You , Frank

Thank you, Lynn, hope all is well, frank

[flybyferns]

Thank you, Lynn, hope all is well, frank

Yes all is well, thank you. I always enjoy your posts. As you know.
In the late 70's , while at a favorite swimming hole; a waterfalls in the Catskills ( burrrrr - even in August ! ) I came across a huge millipede that was walking on the rocks. I remember it being , at least, 4-5" inches long and a dark/amber brown. A creature I will never forget.
Lynn

[findiviglio]

Yes all is well, thank you. I always enjoy your posts. As you know.
In the late 70's , while at a favorite swimming hole; a waterfalls in the Catskills ( burrrrr - even in August ! ) I came across a huge millipede that was walking on the rocks. I remember it being , at least, 4-5" inches long and a dark/amber brown. A creature I will never forget.
Lynn

There are same spectacular species here; was it the one pictured here, perhaps? (color varies a bit among different populations): Millipede - Narceus americanus-annularis-complex - BugGuide.Net