Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This will be my first time owning a millipede (giant african black) and I want to be sure of a few things before getting started.

First what is the best bedding to use? I've seen a lot of different things mentioned and figured a mixture to be the best idea, but of what? I think the coconut fiber sounds pretty good, but I also see peat soil and vermilicite mentioned. I thought actual soil from the woods (sterilized of course) might work in well too. Also, I want to keep live plants in with them, so should those be left in the pots or not, or meet in the middle and use peat pots? and should they be spread out or kept in one area of the tank?

For keeping moisture in shredded bark or spahgeum moss?

As for water used for misting/drinking should it be bottled water or distilled?

Has anyone used ladybugs for mite removal? They eat aphids so they should work for mites right?

I don't know if this last one matters or not, but I'm somewhat of a heavy smoker this won't effect the millipede will it?

For my AGB's I use coconut fiber (Bed-A-Beast) mixed with little ReptiBark. You're fine with just coconut fiber. If you're going to use soil, don't get it from the woods. You can buy a large bag (about 50lbs) of unfertilized soil from Home Depot for about $1.20.

As for plants, You can either spread them out or put them in part of the tank. It doesn't matter. Just make sure they aren't poisonous. Also, make sure you have plenty of dark hiding spots, for the millipedes do not like being out in the bright lights needed for plants.

Keeping moisture shouldn't be to hard. Just mist the tank daily. The plants will help keep the humidity up. If keeping up the humidity levels becomes a problem, just mist more or cover a portion of the tank lid with plasic wrap. It helps alot with keeping in the heat/humidity.

I don't know about the ladybugs. I've asked before and didn't get any information on it. Just keep the tank clean and aphids shouldnt be a problem.

Of course, have a small heat pad and a water dish.

Enjoy your millipedes. They're a lot of fun. Far more active then any of my other Inverts.

I wanted to be clear on this so... Why should'nt I use soil from the woods? I thought that if I bake it that would take care of any organisms present. Besides, I would need something for the plants to get nutrients from since the coconut fiber says I would need fertilizer to use it for plants.

If you bake the soil I dont think there should be any problems. Personally, I would just purchase a bag of unfertilized top soil from Home Depot. Kinda feels safer, ya know. Cheap, too. 50lbs for $1.19, i believe.

Yeah, I ended up buying a 58 pound bag at Lowes (kinda overkill but...) I've got two of them living in a 20 gallon long tank with a 2 ferns, 2 small aloe, and a "succulent" type plant, plenty of dirt mixture and shredded bark.

So far they seem to like hidding under the log bridge the best. I've only got to check the sex of one while she was up truckin' around the tank, the other hides or sleeps more.

Thanks for the help, and sorry for the late reply.