African Banded Millipede

Rhapidostreptus virgator

MillipedebeginnerHarmlessCommunal 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.

About

A large banded African millipede kept much like the giant African (Archispirostreptus gigas): a deep substrate of coco/soil topped with oak leaf litter and rotten hardwood, 70-80°F and 70-80% humidity, with cuttlebone for calcium. A gentle, long-lived detritivore that does well in groups — an easy, rewarding beginner millipede.

Taxonomy

FamilySpirostreptidae

GenusRhapidostreptus

Native regionWest Africa

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentdocile, harmless detritivore

Size & growth

Adult sizeup to ~7 inches

Length130.00–180.00 mm

Growth rateslow

Climate

Temperature70–80 °F

Humidity70–80%

Enclosure

Adult sizeterrestrial tank with deep substrate; good ventilation

Substratedeep coco/soil + oak leaf litter & rotten hardwood; cuttlebone for calcium

Substrate depth4-6 inches

Water dishOptional

Feeding

Feeding modeDetritivore (decaying matter)

Prey sizen/a (detritivore)

Adult cadencecontinuous — leaf litter, decaying hardwood, veg + calcium

Times kept: 0