Giant Fire Millipede

Pelmatojulus ligulatus

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 vivid orange-red West African round-back — a beautiful but more demanding species because it is a rotting-wood specialist. It feeds almost exclusively on decaying hardwood, dead leaves, and lichen and often refuses standard produce, so a deep, well-decomposed woody substrate is essential. Keep warm (75-82°F) and very humid (75-90%) with frequent misting. Note: some vendor listings quote lengths up to ~13 in for the genus; ~5-6 in is a more realistic mature size. Docile; wash hands before and after handling.

Taxonomy

FamilyPachybolidae

GenusPelmatojulus

Native regionWest Africa

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentdocile, harmless detritivore

Size & growth

Adult size~5-6 in (130-160 mm)

Body length3.94–6.3 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

Temperature75–82°F

Humidity75–90%

Enclosure

Adult sizeterrestrial tank with deep substrate; good ventilation

Substratedeep organic-rich coco/soil + lots of rotting hardwood, dead leaves & lichen

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