Also known as the "Madagascan Pill," the Pill Millipede is a fascinating creature found in the mature woodlands of Madagascar.
Pill Millipedes are quite popular among hobbyists, though they are notorious for being very difficult to feed. Their main diet in captivity, and in the wild, is rotting wood, mosses and lichens . They are very active insects, and they will curl up in a ball when frightened. They become curious and uncurl quickly when placed in the hand. All in all, they are highly desirable terrarium animals.
Mature Pill Millipedes will reach a length of 20mm. Their body is usually a chestnut-brown, which aids them in camouflage. The two varieties regularly imported from Madagascar are an emerald variety and a chocolate brown variety. There may be more than one emerald variety, and there have been rumors circulated about a successful mating to produce orange and purple Pill Millipedes. The Pill Millipede has two pairs of legs per body segment, and they are found on the underside of the body, along with one pair of antennae. Pill Millipedes are sometimes confused with Pill Bugs. The easiest way to distinguish them is that Pill Bugs cannot tuck their heads into the ball when they curl up and Pill Millipedes can.
Pill Millipedes are very difficult to feed in captivity, and some refuse food entirely until they starve to death.
The substrate used when housing captive Pill Millipedes is very important, it is recommended that one use a mixture of peat, rotten wood (oak, aspen, mesquite, joshua tree and cottonwood), and oak leaves. The rotted wood is very important, the more you can use the better. Do not use the following wood in their tank: cypress, cedar, pine or redwood. These woods are toxic to Millipedes. The substrate should be approximately four inches deep. Humidity should be added through daily misting and by covering the tank tightly. This also speeds up wood decomposition. Keep the temperature in between 75 and 80 degrees, paying close attention during breeding to make adjustments. A water dish may also be necessary for temperature/humidity levels. It is possible to keep a community terrarium with Pill millipedes and Fire Millipedes. Both are from the Madagascar area and they are able to live in similar habitats.
Breeding the Pill Millipede is quite difficult and there are no confirmed reports of successfully propagating this animal in captivity.
