Where to start?

[mykey14]

I want to get a Giant train milipede, but how should I house it and what should I feed?

Also does anyone know where I can get one? No pet stores nearby have any.

And are milipedes considered exotics like mantids?

Thank you!

 

[brancsikia339]

Yes millipedes are considered exotic. This species you can feed fruits, vegetables, etc. They should be housed in a 10 gallon tank with a coconut fiber bedding. They may burrow. You can buy them for $64.00 at bugsincyberspace.com, or go to any reptile show and buy them from $60-100.

 

[Hypoponera]

I want to get a Giant train milipede, but how should I house it and what should I feed?

Also does anyone know where I can get one? No pet stores nearby have any.

And are milipedes considered exotics like mantids?

Thank you!

Best advice I can give is for you to contact Orin. He has a nice starter book on millipede keeping that he wrote. I am sure he can sell you a copy and does have some millipedes he might be able to sell you as well. But I do think he is out of the A. gigas that you are interested in at the moment. You might want to consider some Ivories instead. They are tough and tend to be at the surface a fair amount of time.

 

[mykey14]

thanks for the replies

Geez $60 - $100?

Thats pretty darn expensive

What i meant by 'exotic' is are they illegal?

 

[mykey14]

thanks for the replies

Geez $60 - $100?

Thats pretty darn expensive

What i meant by 'exotic' is are they illegal?

i just did a little more research as to why they are expensive and now i feel stupid for asking... :blush:

 

[Hypoponera]

They are not illegal to keep. But they are no longer imported into the US. You are able to buy captive bred specimens. But they are no longer $12-$14 anymore! $60 is now considered very cheap.

"Exotic" tends to mean non-native. Orin does have several species of native millipedes. But no US native millipede will get as large as A. gigas. But a mature Ivory can be quite an eye catcher none the less. You can also shop at Bugsincyberspace as Peter does have many species listed as well.

 

[mykey14]

What is the largest native milipede?

 

[Hypoponera]

The longest native species would be members of genus Orthoporus. They commonly reach 6 or more inches in length, but are not very thick bodied. They can be rather colorful as well. O. ornatus is the most commonly available species.

I have a couple Narceus amaricanus that are only 4 inches long but much thicker bodied then the O. ornatus. N. gordanus is a little longer and thicker then N. americanus.