The numbers
Enclosure
45 × 30 × 30 cm
Diet
Dry leaves, wood; fruit/veg for hydration · Veg every few days; leaf litter always
Temperature
24–30°C
Humidity
50–65% (drier than most millipedes)
Identity
Order / Family
Spirostreptida
IUCN / CITES
Not evaluated; no CITES listing
Difficulty
Beginner–Intermediate
Commonality
Common in US hobby
Adult size
10–17 cm
Lifespan
5–10 yrs
Growth rate
Slow
Activity & niche
Detritivore burrower, drought-adapted
Temperament
Docile
Venom / defense
Harmless; secretes irritant defensive fluid — wash hands, avoid eyes
Enclosure and conditions
Temperature
24–30°C
Humidity
50–65% (drier than most millipedes)
Min. enclosure
45x30x30 cm for a group
Substrate
8–10 cm coco/soil/sand, partly moistened
Hides / decor / water
Bark/rock hide, water dish, some leaf litter
Diet
Staple food
Dry leaves, wood; fruit/veg for hydration
Feeding frequency
Veg every few days; leaf litter always
Supplements
Cuttlebone / calcium always available
Behaviour and handling
Handling
Gentle, brief; wash hands after, avoid eyes
Communal
Yes – communal
Defense / stress signs
Coiling, fluid secretion
Reproduction
Reproduction
Slow to breed in captivity
Common health problems
Common health issues
SignsRot if kept too wet; dehydration if too dry
Red flags / quarantine
SignsQuarantine imports; avoid over-humidity
Good to know
- One of the few millipedes adapted to true desert heat and dryness.
Others in this group
Giant African MillipedeArchispirostreptus gigasThai/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 dollfusi