{"id":1781,"date":"2020-11-05T21:20:44","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T21:20:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/?p=1781"},"modified":"2021-08-14T13:13:23","modified_gmt":"2021-08-14T13:13:23","slug":"bumblebee-millipede-a-practical-care-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepingbugs.com\/bumblebee-millipede-a-practical-care-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Bumblebee Millipede: A Practical Care Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Want to start keeping bumblebee millipedes? That’s a great choice! Bumblebee millipedes are beautiful millipedes to keep, and easy and fun to care for. This very popular millipede is one that makes the perfect choice for beginners or a fantastic pet for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To give you and your millipede the perfect start we created this complete care guide. Although the care for bumblebee millipedes are quite easy, there are some essentials you need to provide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In this bumblebee millipede care guide, we discuss topics about the housing and enclosure requirements, how to create the perfect environmental conditions for your millipede, the best way to feed your millipede and cleaning the habitat. We also look at how you can breed your own baby millipedes in the future. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, let’s have a closer look at bumblebee millipedes and discover more about this stunning coloured species. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About the bumblebee millipede<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>
Bumblebee millipede,
Yellow-banded millipede<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>
Anadenobolus monilicornis<\/em><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Lifespan ~7 years (some even more)<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Body size 6cm – 7.5cm (2.5″-3″)<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Photo by Arthur Anker \/ Flickr<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Appearance <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bumblebee millipedes (Anadenobolus monilicornis<\/em>) are one of the more coloured of all millipedes. Every thick-bodied segment is black\/brown with a bright yellow band. They have typical 2 pairs of legs per body segment which are bright red\/pink coloured. Also, the antennae are the same colour as their feet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are reports of them growing a body size up to 10cm (4″), but most will be around 7.5cm (3″). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behaviour, temperament and handling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bumblebee millipedes are not dangerous, don’t bite and are pretty harmless to humans. However, remember that a millipede can secrete toxic and irritating fluids when feeling threatened. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are slow-moving and very calm animals. They are docile and can be handled when careful. Because of the secretion of irritating fluids, you should always wash your hands after handle them, or wear plastic gloves. Also, when they fall can damage your millipede, which can eventually cause them to die. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although you can handle them without posing a danger, you should consider that they do not like to be picked up or touched. Often you see millipedes curl up to protect themself from any harm or danger. This behaviour is a sign of stress, so make sure you don’t pick them up or (need to) handle them too often. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bumblebee millipedes seem to be attracted to light and are quite often above ground wandering around. However, sometimes they like to bury themselves and particularly do that when they are ready to moult. Do not dig them up because this is very stressful for them and you can damage your millipede when moulting or when they just have been moulted (and their exoskeleton still needs to harden). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Housing requirements for bumblebee millipedes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step of keeping bumblebee millipedes is to have good housing. The millipede(s) should be in a proper sized enclosure to eventually create a good habitat for your animals. We will discuss it all in this section. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type and size of the enclosure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bumblebee millipedes don’t have high enclosure requirements and are quite easy to house. Recommended minimum enclosure size that is at least three times the body size in width and one and a half up to two times the body size in depth. The floor space is more important than height. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Height should be at least one time the body size, but for ease of care, it is recommended to have a bit higher enclosure (also because of the substrate layer). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Millipedes can be housed individually and in groups. When keeping them in groups, you should consider a larger enclosure. Also, be aware that millipedes primarily feed on the substrate, so a larger enclosure is beneficial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could use different types and different brands of enclosures. You have some great terrariums from Exo Terra and ReptiZoo that work really well for millipedes. But you can also use an (old) aquarium. A terrarium that I particularly like to keep in millipedes is the Exo Terra Large\/Low PT2611. With its size of 90cm x 45cm x 30cm creates enough floor space to house a nice group of millipedes (between 4 and 8 adults). Besides that, it has all the essential features you need to keep and care for millipedes: enough ventilation and doors as well a lid for easy access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essential features of the enclosure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There is a myriad of terrarium types that can be used for bumblebee millipedes. But some essential features are required or make keeping them very practical. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first feature you really need to look out for is ventilation capacity. The enclosure needs to have enough ventilation. Many terrariums have ventilation holes in the front panel and top panel\/lid. Basically, that is enough. If you buy an aquarium with a lid, there is not enough ventilation, and you probably need to customize it somewhat (drill holes in the lid or cover it with a metal mesh screen). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The floor should be waterproof so that the moist substrate don’t dry out that fast or that substrate fall out of the enclosure. Net cages are therefore not suitable for keeping millipedes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another feature is that the doors are not all the way to the bottom, but there is a front of around 10cm (4″) so that you can hold enough of the substrate in the enclosure when opening the doors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to have easy access. Although doors in front are easy sometimes, it is also recommended to have access from the top of the enclosure (for spraying water or redecorating the enclosure). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The substrate for bumblebee millipedes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The substrate is life for millipedes. You can’t keep millipedes without a good layer of a quality substrate. The substrate of millipedes should be at least 5cm (2″), but better would be to have a depth of 10cm (4″), and consists of two parts: the base component and the food component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The base component is to create enough volume of a substrate. The best product to use for this purpose is coconut fibre. Besides it is a cheap, clean and consistent product, it also helps to keep up the humidity in the enclosure. You could use other products like potting soil, but in my experience coconut fibre<\/a> works best (sometimes also called coil fibre, coco fibre or eco earth). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second part is the food component, which is rather essential for keeping (and breeding) bumblebee millipedes. Millipedes are detritivores, which means they eat primarily on decaying plant matters. So we should provide that as well to keep them healthy. You can use different materials for that, such as leaf litter (from hardwood), pieces of rotten wood (from hardwood), compost soil, or organic compost material from the shop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be aware that everything you buy from shops that is not primarily made for animals can hold chemicals and other substances that are deadly for your millipedes. Always check the description or talk to the shop seller for advice if chemicals are added to the products. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How better the quality of your substrate, the healthier your millipedes will be, and with breeding let you have better results and more healthy baby millipedes. You may say that the substrate is the most important part of keeping your millipedes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Suggested read: <\/strong><\/strong>Want to know more about the best substrate for millipedes? I wrote an article all about why substrate is so important for millipede and how you can make the best substrate for them<\/a> that I highly encourage you to read! The substrate can make a real difference for your millipede’s health and happiness. <\/div>