Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Place the millipede in a 10-gallon aquarium. According to the website Bugs in Cyberspace, this is the size that most millipede enthusiasts prefer. Millipedes do well in captivity, and a shoe box or a coffee can will suffice. However, the larger the artificial setting, the better the chances the millipede will thrive. An aquarium also offers better viewing for owners who want to watch their millipedes in a near-natural environment.
Create a near-natural environment. Place items inside the aquarium that the millipede would come in contact with outside of captivity. Place pieces of bark or trees on the bottom of the tank to create hiding spots; a millipede likes to stay hidden during the day. Bugs in Cyberspace recommends putting a layer of leaves in the aquarium. Leaves are a millipede's preferred diet, so you're providing food and cover in one fell swoop.
Keep the aquarium relatively warm and damp. The Easy Insects website recommends a temperature of between 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and a humidity level of between 60 to 80 percent. Aquariums can be kept warm via a heat lamp or a heat mat, and kept humid by spraying them with water. Millipedes also like soil, so it's best to keep a layer of peat and soil at the bottom of the cage; it can go underneath the layer of leaves. Water the layer of soil intermittently to keep it damp, but don't put in too much water -- millipedes are not water bugs. Make sure there's proper ventilation to avoid mold. A screened aquarium top will do the trick; poke holes if your millipede is in a shoe box or can.
Provide enough food to keep the millipede healthy. The website Earth Life recommends supplementing a millipede's diet with calcium, which helps strengthen its skeleton. Calcium supplements can be purchased at pet stores.
It may take some trial and error to find out what your millipede's preferred diet is. BugGuide states that there are more than 80,000 species of millipedes; diets will vary depending on species. Try leaving a variety of vegetation (in addition to the type of leaves already layered in the tank) in different states of decay. Some millipedes like vegetables, including tomatoes, mushrooms and lettuce, and fruit. Your millipede will also need a source of water, so place a small dish in one of the aquarium's corners.
Breed millipedes by placing several in one aquarium. Millipedes like to live in colonies, and ten to twenty can comfortably live in a 10-gallon aquarium, advises Bugs in Cyberspace. There's not much you have to do to get them to breed; it will just occur naturally, as long as they're healthy and well taken care of.