Diet
In the wild, giant millipedes eat decaying plant material. In captivity, they can eat vegetables and fruit. Cut up lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, melons, peaches, and bananas into small pieces.
Do not use chlorinated town or city tap water to wash food for millipedes. They are highly sensitive to chlorine toxicity.
A shallow dish of fresh, clean, chlorine-free water should be available to them at all times. Put a large stone in the dish the millipedes can use to climb out to prevent drowning. Feed the millipedes once per day in a shallow dish or jar lid.
Health Issues
Mites are the most common health problem for giant millipedes. Some mites do live on their bodies to help keep them clean, but others may cluster around the head and refuse to budge. Use tweezers to remove them.
Millipedes may also develop fungal infections, which means the tank environment is too high or low in humidity. The presence of fungus indicates that a millipede’s health is declining and can often be fatal.
When fully grown, giant millipedes can be up to 13 inches long and be about as big around as a golf ball. Their lifespan is five to 10 years.
