Vietnamese Rainbow Millipede

Tonkinbolus dollfusi

MillipedeintermediateHarmlessCommunal OK

No venom, no sting

Millipedes don't bite or sting and have no venom. Many do secrete defensive chemicals when stressed, so wash your hands after handling and keep them away from your eyes and mouth.

Secretes benzoquinones

Stains skin brown for several days and stings badly in the eyes or on broken skin. Wash your hands after handling, don't rub your face, and keep it well away from small children.

About

A beautiful millipede ringed in red, black, and yellow 'rainbow' bands. A touch more demanding than the African giants: it dislikes temperature swings (keep a steady 72-77°F) and wants high humidity (70-90%) over deep (7-10 cm) soil-based substrate with leaf litter and rotting wood. Docile and not prone to heavy defensive secretion. Detritivore — substrate is most of its diet, plus a calcium source. Harmless; wash hands after handling.

Taxonomy

FamilyPachybolidae

GenusTonkinbolus

Native regionVietnam, Southeast Asia

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentdocile; moves off quickly when touched

Size & growth

Adult sizeup to 4 inches (10 cm)

Body length3.15–3.94 in

Growth rateslow

Life stagesNo distinct stages

DevelopmentAnamorphic — gains segments with each moult

Millipedes molt underground in a small chamber and can stay buried for weeks. If yours has disappeared into the substrate, leave it be — digging it up mid-molt can kill it.

Climate

Temperature72–77°F

Humidity70–90%

Enclosure

Adult sizeterrestrial tank with deep substrate; good ventilation

Substratedeep coco/soil + decaying hardwood leaf litter & rotten wood; add calcium (cuttlebone)

Substrate depth4-6 inches

Water dishOptional

Moisture gradientRequired — keep one end damp, one end dry

Feeding

Feeding modeDetritivore (decaying matter)

Food & schedulecontinuous — leaf litter, decaying hardwood, veg + calcium

Supplemental calciumRequired — cuttlebone or a calcium powder

Times kept: 0