Feather-tail Centipede

Alipes grandidieri

CentipedeintermediateVenom: Moderate

Venom note

Bites are extremely painful and slow to heal (1-2 days), but far from lethal — nearly 1000 venom glands' worth would be needed to seriously harm an adult. Fast and defensive; no handling.

About

A distinctive East African centipede with flattened, paddle-like rear legs that look like feathers or flags — when threatened it waves and rubs them to stridulate, hissing a warning rather than always biting. Desiccates quickly, so keep it moist with good humidity (65-80%) on deep substrate it can burrow into, plus a hide and a water dish, at room-to-warm temperatures. Fast and skittish; its bite is very painful and slow to heal but nowhere near dangerous. An intermediate species — escape-proof lid, no handling.

Taxonomy

FamilyScolopendridae

GenusAlipes

Native regionEast Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda)

TypeFossorial

Temperamentskittish, fast; stridulates and waves tail legs when threatened

Size & growth

Adult size4-6 inches

Length100.00–150.00 mm

Growth ratemedium

Climate

Temperature72–82 °F

Humidity65–80%

Enclosure

Adult sizesecure tight-lid tank; floor space to stretch; deep substrate

Substratemoist (not wet) coco fiber/peat for burrowing; hide; water dish

Substrate depth4-6 inches

Water dishRequired

Feeding

Feeding modePredator (live prey)

Prey sizecrickets, roaches, mealworms

Adult cadence1 prey per week

Times kept: 0