How to Keep a Wild Millipede

Millipedes -- round, often brightly colored arthropods with 100 to 400 legs -- are native to some parts of the United States. Unlike certain species of centipedes, millipedes never bite or sting and are safe to hold. Millipedes make fascinating and decorative pets, given the right diet, a humid environment and enough space to move around and burrow. You can keep one or several wild millipedes together in an aquarium at home.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-gallon aquarium with lid
  • Peat moss, potting soil or sphagnum moss
  • Spray bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a clear glass or plastic container suitable for your millipede(s), preferably a 5-gallon aquarium. The container must be at least twice as large as the longest arthropod.

    • 2

      Wet sphagnum moss, peat moss or potting soil and squeeze out the excess liquid. Fill the aquarium with soil or moss until it is half full. Millipedes spend most of their time underground, and moss or soil allows them to burrow.

    • 3

      Gently place the millipedes into the container and place a lid over the top. The lid should be tightly fitted to prevent escape and should have a few holes to provide ventilation. Too many holes, however, can interfere with humidity level.

    • 4

      Mist inside the container once a day to keep the environment humid and provide water for the millipedes to eat.

    • 5

      Feed the millipedes. Most millipedes eat decaying vegetable matter, such as overripe bananas and other soft fruits and vegetables. Feed them a variety of foods to find out what they like best. If they don't respond to your food, look up your millipedes in an insect guide or send a picture of them to your local Extension service to find out the recommended diet for your specific millipede species. Remove and replace moldy food, or food with mites and other insects on it.

    • 6

      Keep the container at room temperature (between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit), out of direct sunlight.