The Giant Black Millipede is known for its impressive size and non-aggressive disposition. They are also easy to care for. For this reason, Giant Black Millipedes are often recommended as the first choice for those newly interested in this hobby.
The Giant Black Millipede is also known as the Giant Millipede, Giant African Black Millipede, African Black Millipede, and the Tanzanian Giant Black Millipede. African Giant Black Millipedes are beautiful, calm, moisture-loving millipedes. While they are not known to bite or sting, owners should take several precautions around them. The Giant Black Millipedes main defense mechanism is to curl up in a ball and excrete a defensive liquid. This liquid can be dangerous if it comes in contact with your eyes or mouth. If you come in contact with this liquid it is important to wash thoroughly. Some may be allergic to this excrement and therefore reactions may vary. Both baby and adult Giant Black Millipedes will a large variety of fruits and vegetables including, melons, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, melons, apples, and bananas. It is also important to purchase calcium from any pet store, as they require more calcium to thrive than their normal diet can provide. Some keepers also recommend adding lime salts to their diets. These millipedes should not be fed meat. They do not typically drink water from a bowl; rather they lick drops of dew. For this reason they should be misted frequently. Giant Black Millipedes do well in a five to ten gallon tank, at the very least the tank should be at least twice as wide and high as the length of the millipede. The width of the tank is more important than its height since the Giant Black Millipede is terrestrial. The tank's temperature should be set to 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit, with 75 to 80 percent humidity. Lizard rock caves, also provide good hiding places for these millipedes. The tank should be filled with three to four inches of moist peat moss and potting soil. These millipedes do well with other African Giant Black Millipedes.
The Giant Black Millipede is one of the largest millipedes in the world. Mature Giant Black Millipedes will grow to a length of seven and a half to eleven inches. They are a jet-black color with reddish-brown legs.
The Giant Black Millipede originates in Ghana, Africa.
The Giant Black Millipedes main defense mechanism is to curl up in a ball and excrete a defensive liquid. This liquid can be dangerous if it comes in contact with your eyes or mouth. If you come in contact with this liquid it is important to wash thoroughly. Some may be allergic to this excrement and therefore reactions may vary.
The Giant Black Millipedes is relatively easy to breed in captivity. By looking at the genital openings, it is easy to distinguish males from females. They are located on the third body segment behind the second pair of legs. The male has two intermittent organs, while the female has two plates. The male's intermittent organs are use to transfer sperm prior to copulation. Incubation lasts five months; the babies are pure white and very small, measuring only two to three mm in length.
