giant millipedes

[aprillinda]

hi

does anybody keep giant millipedes

i am very interested in getting some and am currently checking on their care so i can be well prepared

probably a daft question but could they live with snails in same viv

linda

[deadmansfinger]

aprillinda said:

hi

does anybody keep giant millipedes

i am very interested in getting some and am currently checking on their care so i can be well prepared

probably a daft question but could they live with snails in same viv

linda

I have kept these in the past and they are great pets. We have discussed it many times on here and I do not think in the close confines of the vivarium they should be mixed together. Both millipedes and snails like to burrow and will also climb any branches in the tank so they both occupy the same areas of the tank. The main problem I see is the snails disturbing the millipedes by climbing over them and stressing them or by falling on them. Millipedes release a substance when stressed that although not overly toxic it could irritate the snails. The other item to note is that millipedes are very fragile. A snail falling on them could crush them so it's probably not worth the risk in my opinion.

Generally when I say this people argue that they live together in nature but if you think about it, nature is slightly bigger than even the biggest of tanks we can provide and in nature they are not forced to live together in such close proximity as in captivity.

I just feel if you want to keep different species of animals, give them their own space.

Brian.

[aprillinda]

thanks

your response makes excellent sense and i will take your advice and keep them separatly

thanks linda

[nacre]

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