Giant Centipede Care, Feeding, Supplies...and Warnings!

[findiviglio]

Hi All,
The serious centipede enthusiast can look forward to a lifetime of interest and discovery. Over 3,000 species (class Chilopoda) have been described so far, and we know little about most! Biologists place Centipedes and the world’s 10,000+Millipedes in the same Super Order, Myriapoda, but any similarities end there. The name “Giant Centipede” is applied to a variety of species. Those most commonly seen in trade are the Amazonian Giant Centipede (Scolopendra gigantean) and the Vietnamese or Red-headed Centipede (S. subspinipes), but as many as 6 species have been recorded as being sold under the same name.
Centipede ownership requires consideration, and should only be undertaken by mature, cautious adults. Bites from various species have caused fevers, dizziness, cardiac problems, breathing difficulties and fatalities. Allergic reactions to their venom can occur – as evidenced by a Bronx Zoo co-worker of mine, who was hospitalized after being bitten by a species considered to be harmless. Read the rest of this article here Giant Centipede Care, Feeding and Supplies and Warnings!
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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

Best Regards, Frank Indiviglio

[Truffs1178]

This has come in handy as it's my birthday in a few weeks and I'm hoping to get some Scolopendra Dehaani.

[findiviglio]

This has come in handy as it's my birthday in a few weeks and I'm hoping to get some Scolopendra Dehaani.

Nice to have a supportive family (I did also)...or are you buying yourself a present!? Best, Frank

[Truffs1178]

It depends. My parents may not want a giant monster like these centipedes in the house.

They said no more pets but they usually make exceptions if it's an insect or in this case a Myriapod. Since they said no more pets are allowed I have got an african bullfrog, three more tarantulas, a lot of mantids, some leaf insects and a few stick insect species so I may be able to pull this off.

[Monza geckos]

Just say most of the phasmides died unexpectedly

[Truffs1178]

Frank have you ever been bit by any Centipedes? I just read that a little girl was killed by Scolopendra Dehaani and am now scared that they could kill me. Or did she die because she was so small?

[Bruce]

I quite literally think my mother would kill, and I mean legitimately kill me if I EVER brought something like this home... that being said, they are interesting. Is there a species that isnt as toxic as others?

[Truffs1178]

Maybe I'll get some velvet worms or a trapdoor spider instead...just something that isn't going to put me in hospital. If I don't die of the centipede bite then I'll probably get out the hospital doors and be killed by my mother for not telling her I was harbouring a dangerous psychopede in my bedroom.

[Beardo]

If you are afraid of any animal, you should not keep them thats for sure.

I have kept thousands of venomous animals.....centipedes, scorpions, spiders, snakes.......never been bit by any of them, not even close. If you are careful then you CAN keep them without incident.

[Truffs1178]

I'm not afraid of them...just the bite. I definitely wouldn't handle it and it would be kept very safe. I have to be careful with my tarantulas so they don't harm my dogs.

[findiviglio]

I'm not afraid of them...just the bite. I definitely wouldn't handle it and it would be kept very safe. I have to be careful with my tarantulas so they don't harm my dogs.

Well said...even with care, bites will happen (basing this on 30+ years working in zoos, with trained, experienced keepers)...in private collections, treatment is usually not readily available...zoos have elaborate safety protocols, police to transport to hospital, others to assist so that venom is not spread by victim trying to re-capture animal or obtain help, antivenin extremely expoenisve, and cannot be administered at home; venoms of many inverts unstudied...and so on; there are countless fascinating non-venomous species to work with, many undiscovered, etc. Enjoy, best, Frank