Giant african millipede, Archispirostreptus gigas

Do Giant african millipedes make good pets?

Giant african millipedes are the largest living species of millipede, with the capability of growing over a foot in length. They are gentle giants that make great pets for both beginner and experienced invertebrate keepers.

At Swell Reptiles, all of our Giant african millipedes are captive bred in the UK, meaning you can rest assured your new pet came from a reliable source, with minimal negative impacts on their native environment.

What size enclosure does a Giant african millipede need?

For a pair of Giant african millipedes, an enclosure of around 45 x 45 x 30cm (18 x 18 x 12”) will work best. This can either be a decorative glass enclosure, or a plastic box type set-up, for example, the Exo Terra Glass Terrarium 45x45x30cm or this Komodo Plastic Terrarium.

Do Giant african millipedes need to be heated?

Giant african millipedes are best kept within a temperature range of 20-24°C (98-75°F), which means in most instances, no additional heating equipment is required. If your home is particularly cool and you do need to add a little supplementary heating, a heat mat controlled by an on/off thermostat will do the job.

How do I decorate a Giant african millipede terrarium?

A Giant african millipede enclosure should be decorated with wood pieces, such as logs or cork bark pieces, and plenty of leaf litter which will form a part of their diet. You may also wish to add some foliage in the form of live or artificial plants, but this is not a necessity when you are already providing cover using wood pieces.

What do Giant african millipedes eat?

Giant african millipedes are detritivores, meaning they feed on dead organic material, mainly plant detritus. A mulch type substrate such as The Spider Shop Millipede Mulch is a good option, as this has a dual purpose as both a substrate and a food source. Along with this, a good sprinkling of leaf litter will provide a staple food.

It is important to periodically feed your Millipedes some fresh fruit and veg to add variety and provide further nutrition. The Spider Shop’s Milli-Mix is also a good source of nutrients and protein to offer to your millipedes every now and again. A calcium source, for example, Komodo Cuttlebone should also be placed in the enclosure, which helps during the moulting process.

How do I buy a Giant african millipede?

If you would like to purchase one of our UK captive bred Giant african millipedes, please come into our store and see us, bringing with you some images of your complete set-up.

We will ask a few quick questions and also to see your set-up images to ensure you are ready to take one of our Millipedes home. We reserve the right to refuse adoption to anyone we feel is unprepared to adopt.