Description
Giant african millipedes are the largest living species of millipede, with the capability of growing over a foot in length. They are gentle giants that make great pets for both beginner and experienced invertebrate keepers.
For a pair of Giant african millipedes, an enclosure of around 45 x 45 x 30cm (18 x 18 x 12”) will work best. This can either be a decorative glass enclosure, or a plastic box type set-up, for example, the Exo Terra Glass Terrarium 45x45x30cm or Plastic Terrarium.
Giant african millipedes are best kept within a temperature range of 20-24°C (98-75°F), which means in most instances, no additional heating equipment is required. If your home is particularly cool and you do need to add a little supplementary heating, a heat mat controlled by an on/off thermostat will do the job.
A Giant african millipede enclosure should be decorated with wood pieces, such as logs or cork bark pieces, and plenty of leaf litter which will form a part of their diet. You may also wish to add some foliage in the form of live or artificial plants, but this is not a necessity when you are already providing cover using wood pieces.
Millipedes are detritivores, meaning they feed on dead organic material, mainly plant detritus. A mulch type substrate is a good option, as this has a dual purpose as both a substrate and a food source. Along with this, a good sprinkling of leaf litter will provide a staple food.
It is important to periodically feed your Millipedes some fresh fruit and veg to add variety and provide further nutrition. A calcium source, for example, Cuttlebone should also be placed in the enclosure, which helps during the moulting process.