Millipedes
Millipedes are probably one of our favourite animals here at ForbiddenForests!
There is so much variety, you can find the perfect type for you! There's the Bumble Bee millipede that only grows up to 4 inches all the way up to the Giant African millipede that reaches an incredible 15 inches! as an added bonus these guys are communal as long as you provide a large enough enclosure for them, the bigger the better really!
Housing
Now while there is no hard and fast rule on the best enclosures, we have found that a 120 litre rub, filled roughly 3/4 of the way with substrate and cork bark on the top works incredibly well. (We also have a 3ft tank with a homemade perspex ventilated lid housing our larger species.)
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For ventilation we have drilled all the way around the top and then have also removed strips of plastic from the lid and covered with mesh, and just to make sure any mould is taken care of effectively we have a colony of spring tails and tropical woodlice.
Substrate/Diet
Substrate is the most important thing when it comes to keeping millipedes happy and healthy! Not only does it give them somewhere to hide away but its also an important part of their diet! So far the best option we have found is from The Spidershop UK. The millipede mulch is the perfect mix of leaves, wood and soil to give them the nutrients they need (we are in no way associated or affiliated with The Spidershop but we have to thank them for making this product, we spent months trying to find something like this!)
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If you have the time, space and resources you can also make your own, but it can be a little tricky to make sure all the components are sterile, always bake any wood found/collected from outside on a low heat for roughly 4 hours to make sure there aren't any bacteria or parasites that could potentially harm your millipedes. The other thing to avoid when making your own mulch is using top soil or compost that has any chemicals mixed in, always check the ingredients but normally organic compost is safe.
Also be aware that some composts and top soils contain plastics and even glass! So make sure to check if you are thinking of using these!
The ideal ratio is:
2 parts organic soil
2 parts leaf litter
2 parts rotten white wood
1 part moss (to help with humidity)
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Along with having the perfect substrate for them to munch on, its always great to give them a little extra fruit and veg, so far we have found ours love a bit of carrot, melon and a little banana, but there are plenty more options for them such as broccoli, Lettuce (not iceberg) apple and mushrooms. Always make sure they are pesticide and fertilizer free, if you're not sure wash it and/or peel it. Always remove any "wet" foods within 24 hours to stop any mold growth (once it's there it's hard to get rid of, we learned the hard way!)
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They also enjoy fruit mix jelly pots
(the ones made for reptiles and invertebrates, not for people!)
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Once a month put a small amount of fish flake in for a boost of protein.
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And finally don't forget the all important Cuttle fish bone as a source of calcium.
This can either be placed into the enclosure whole, powdery side facing up, or can be crushed up into a 'dust' and mixed in with the substrate.
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