Caring for Giant African Millipedes: A Guide to These Gentle Giants

Giant African Millipedes, with their impressive size and fascinating behavior, make unique and rewarding pets for invertebrate enthusiasts. While their name suggests they might have 1,000 legs, these arthropods typically have between 300 and 400 legs. Native to the lush rainforests of Africa, these gentle creatures are the largest of the 10,000 millipede species, known for their calm demeanor and relatively simple care requirements. If you’re considering adding a Giant African Millipede to your home, here’s everything you need to know about their care, natural habitat, and some cool facts about these remarkable creatures.

Life in the Wild: Habitat and Behavior

Giant African Millipedes are native to the rainforests of subtropical western Africa, where they thrive in warm, dark environments on the forest floor. These millipedes are detritivores, meaning they feed on decaying organic matter such as rotting wood, leaves, and plant material. Their role as decomposers is vital to their ecosystem, as they help break down dead matter and recycle nutrients back into the soil.

In the wild, these millipedes are nocturnal, emerging at night to forage for food and explore their environment. During the day, they prefer to hide in burrows or beneath rotting logs, where they can avoid predators and stay cool in the humid rainforest climate. With over 40 body segments and hundreds of legs, Giant African Millipedes move slowly and steadily through their environment, using their segmented bodies to navigate the complex terrain of the forest floor.

Unique Features and Defense Mechanisms

One of the most striking features of Giant African Millipedes is their impressive size, ranging from 4 to 12 inches in length. Their bodies are dark brown or black and are made up of numerous segments, each with two pairs of legs. As they grow, millipedes molt, shedding their exoskeleton and adding new segments and legs with each molt. This unique growth process allows them to adapt to their environment and develop their full size over several years.

When threatened, Giant African Millipedes have a few defense mechanisms to protect themselves from predators. Unlike their centipede relatives, which have venomous fangs, millipedes have weak jaws and cannot bite effectively. Instead, they rely on their ability to curl into a tight coil, using their tough exoskeleton as armor. Additionally, they can secrete a foul-smelling fluid from pores along their body, which deters potential predators by making them unappealing to eat.

Setting Up the Perfect Habitat

Caring for a Giant African Millipede at home involves creating an environment that mimics their natural habitat as closely as possible. A 40-gallon terrarium with dimensions of 36”L x 18”W x 18”H is recommended for housing one or more millipedes. The enclosure should have a secure, tightly-fitted lid to prevent escape, and it’s important to provide plenty of hiding spots, such as small logs, branches, and cork flats, to make your millipede feel safe and comfortable.

Millipedes prefer a warm and humid environment, with temperatures between 70°F-75°F and humidity levels around 70-80% during the day, increasing at night. You can achieve these conditions by using a ceramic heat emitter or an Arcadia deep heat projector for warmth, and by keeping the substrate appropriately damp. A mixture of Zoo Med ReptiSoil, and  jungle mix or bioactive soil makes an excellent substrate at least as deep as your millipede is long to allow for burrowing. Adding a layer of oak leaf litter provides additional material for your millipede to root around in and consume.

Feeding and Nutrition

Giant African Millipedes are primarily detritivores, so their diet should consist mostly of decomposing organic matter, such as oak leaf litter. You can also offer fresh vegetables and fruits, such as cucumber, melon, carrot, and apple, to provide variety in their diet. A small amount of protein, like fish flakes or dog kibble, can be offered occasionally as a supplement. It’s essential to keep a piece of cuttlebone in the enclosure to provide calcium, which helps maintain a healthy exoskeleton.

Providing a shallow water dish is also important for your millipede’s hydration. Be sure to check the water level regularly and refresh it as needed. You can add pebbles to the dish to prevent accidental drowning.

Handling and Interaction

While Giant African Millipedes are more handleable than many other invertebrates, they do not enjoy being handled in the same way as more traditional pets. When alarmed, they may secrete a foul-smelling liquid that can stain skin and clothing and may cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling your millipede, and limit handling to avoid stressing your pet.

Fun Facts About Giant African Millipedes

• Despite their name, Giant African Millipedes typically have only 300-400 legs, far fewer than the 1,000 implied by the term “millipede.”
• These millipedes have poor eyesight and rely heavily on their sense of touch, using their antennae and legs to navigate their environment.
• Fossil records show that millipedes were among the first animals to colonize land, and they have been found in habitats around the world.
• Giant African Millipedes play a crucial role in their ecosystem as decomposers, helping to break down organic matter and enrich the soil.

Conclusion

Giant African Millipedes are fascinating creatures that make unique and low-maintenance pets. By providing a suitable habitat, proper nutrition, and gentle handling, you can enjoy the company of these gentle giants for years to come. Whether you’re captivated by their intriguing appearance, their essential role in the ecosystem, or their calm demeanor, Giant African Millipedes are sure to be a rewarding addition to your invertebrate collection.