What Can Live With Millipedes?
Millipedes are small arthropods that can be found in the grass, mud or decaying plants in and around your yard. They are not harmful to people but can cause damage to your lawn if they become too numerous.
They are also very nocturnal and are most active at night. To avoid getting a millipede infestation, eliminate things that attract them outside of your home and inside your home.
Eliminating moisture build-up is one of the best ways to prevent millipedes from invading your yard. Check your gutters and make sure they are in good working order, run your sprinklers to ensure that your lawn is dry, and use a dehumidifier or fan when necessary.
Sealing cracks and crevices in your home is another way to keep millipedes out of your house. You can seal up your exterior doors, window sills, and any other openings in your house to prevent them from entering. If you have a basement, crawl space or other areas in your home where there are cracks and crevices, seal them up as well.
Keeping millipedes in a terrarium is not difficult and is relatively inexpensive if you provide a suitable substrate and food. A terrarium with a high surface area and plenty of ventilation is the best for millipedes, but critter keeper cages or open-air containers can also be used if you do not want to purchase a terrarium.
A substrate that is a mixture of peat moss, leaf litter and/or sphagnum moss (no chemicals or fertilizers added) should be used. This can be provided in a shallow container or in a large terrarium, and should be about 4-6 inches deep.
The substrate should be topped off with a mixture of ReptoCal, a calcium supplement or a mix of leaf litter and wood debris, and should be changed out on a regular basis. You should also add fresh fruit, greens and Repashy Bug Burger, which is a vitamin and mineral supplement that can help your millipedes stay healthy.
Temperature & Humidity
Most millipedes like to be kept just above room temperature, but you can warm up the terrarium with a reptile night-viewing bulb, ceramic heater, or under-tank heater. For most species, 72F to 78F is ideal.
You can also place a few small pieces of old tree bark, a section of coconut husk, or a few logs in the enclosure for them to burrow into. You can even buy special habitats for insect pets at some pet stores, which include small sections of hollowed out log that can be placed in the center of the tank.
They will eat their substrate, but you can also offer them fruits and vegetables once a week to give them more variety. A salad of yams, carrots, apples, kale and cucumber is an excellent choice.
Using a reptile vitamin supplement once or twice a week is also a great idea. Many breeds of millipedes lack the calcium they need, so giving them this extra dietary boost is essential to their health.
