Housing: Tank size depends on the size of the centipede. Adult Amazonian giant centipedes should be kept in at least a ten-gallon tank. Adult Vietnamese giant centipedes need at least a five-gallon tank. Most other centipedes can be kept in a two-and-a-half-gallon. While a low tank may be tempting, the high walls of a standard tank help prevent escapes when feeding. Centipedes are very fast. Include leaf litter or hides; this will actually help you see the centipedes more often. Without any above ground hides, they bury themselves in the substrate. Lids must be secured or weighted.
Lighting: No additional lighting required
Temperature: Normal to warm room temperature, between 65-75 degrees.
Feeding: We feed crickets weekly. Feel free to try other prey animals. The amount of food depends on the type and size of centipede. If there are crickets left the next day, feed fewer the next time. If there isn’t, you can increase the amount.
Watering: Mist the enclosure well weekly. You want the substrate damp but not sopping wet.
Substrate: We use a mixture of 70% cocofiber and 30% peat moss. Do not use pine or cedar shavings since the resin is dangerous for most insects. If you include leaf litter or old wood from outside, flash boil them first to rid them of pests and other contaminates.
Handling: Some centipedes, such as the feather-tailed centipede, can be handled because they aren’t aggressive towards people. However, this is not the case for most species, and we do not suggest handling. All centipedes are extremely fast moving, and if you handle one, keep it over the enclosure for when it manages to escape.
