The numbers
Enclosure
90 × 45 × 45 cm
Diet
Decaying hardwood leaves & rotten wood; cucumber, squash, melon · Fresh veg 2–3x/week; leaf litter always available
Temperature
24–28°C
Humidity
70–85%
Identity
Order / Family
Spirostreptida
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; no CITES listing
Difficulty
Beginner
Commonality
Very common; flagship pet millipede
Adult size
20–30 cm (world's largest millipede)
Lifespan
7–10 yrs
Growth rate
Slow
Activity & niche
Detritivore burrower, mostly nocturnal
Temperament
Docile, slow, curls when disturbed
Venom / defense
Harmless; secretes irritant defensive fluid (benzoquinones) — wash hands, avoid eyes
Price (THB)
500–1500 (import)
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–28°C
Humidity
70–85%
Min. enclosure
90x45x45 cm (~40 gal) for adults; horizontal
Substrate
10–15 cm deep coco fibre + rotting hardwood + leaf litter
Hides / decor / water
Cork bark, leaf litter, moss; shallow water dish
Diet
Staple food
Decaying hardwood leaves & rotten wood; cucumber, squash, melon
Feeding frequency
Fresh veg 2–3x/week; leaf litter always available
Supplements
Cuttlebone / calcium powder always available (vital for exoskeleton)
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Gentle, brief only; wash hands after, keep away from eyes
Communal
Yes – communal, colony-friendly
Defense / stress signs
Coiling into spiral, secreting brown irritant fluid
Reproduction
Reproduction
Lays eggs in soil; sexual; slow-maturing
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsMites (usually harmless commensals), dehydration, molt death if low calcium
Red flags / quarantine
SignsHeavy mite loads, sunken segments; quarantine imports, provide clean substrate
Good to know
- Can live a decade and often carries harmless commensal mites on its plates.
Others in this group
Thai/Vietnamese Giant Centipede (Yellow-leg / Cherry)Scolopendra dehaaniVietnamese / Asian Giant CentipedeScolopendra subspinipesVietnam Giant MillipedeVietnam Giant millipedeAmazonian Giant CentipedeScolopendra giganteaTanzanian Red-headed / Tiger CentipedeScolopendra morsitansBumblebee MillipedeAnadenobolus monilicornisVietnamese Rainbow MillipedeTonkinbolus dollfusiRusty / Scarlet Asian MillipedeTrigoniulus corallinus