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.

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)

Length100.00–160.00 mm

Growth rateslow

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

Feeding

Feeding modeDetritivore (decaying matter)

Prey sizen/a (detritivore)

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

Times kept: 0