Madagascar Fire Millipede

Aphistogoniulus corallipes

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 striking Madagascan 'fire' millipede — dark body with fiery orange-red legs. Unusually it likes to climb, so add bark and branches alongside deep moist substrate. Prefers cooler temps (low 70s °F) with high humidity (70-90%) and good ventilation. Detritivore (leaf mulch, rotting wood, calcium). Harmless, but a notable producer of staining defensive fluid — handle gently, wash hands, keep away from eyes. (Genus taxonomy is in flux; sold as the Madagascar fire millipede.)

Taxonomy

FamilyPachybolidae

GenusAphistogoniulus

Native regionMadagascar

TypeTerrestrial

Temperamentdocile; secretes defensive fluid readily

Size & growth

Adult size4-6 inches

Body length3.94–5.91 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

Temperature70–77°F

Humidity70–90%

Enclosure

Adult sizeterrestrial tank with deep substrate; good ventilation

Substratedeep leaf mulch + decaying wood with climbing branches; mostly moist; calcium

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