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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Myriapods (Myriapoda) » Millipedes (Diplopoda)
Photo#1793831
Narceus americanus?
Copyright © 2020 Violet K

Narceus americanus?
Size: ~5 inches
I am a first-time millipede owner and I think I have a n. americanus, or at least I think (I bought online by the way which is why there’s no location). Which leads me to the reason why I submitted this image. All the images of other americanus have red legs and bands on their segments, but mine doesn’t! In fact, I think it looks closer to the Sonoran desert millipede. Also, I’m concerned about it’s health. It has calcium-enriched edible substrate and a bowl of water, and it gets misted everyday or every other day. I’m concerned because I never see it eating, not even during the night and it spends most of its time curled up. I’ve read some suggestions from other people’s posts on Arachnoboards and someone said that if your millipede is like “spaghetti”, it’s not doing well. Not that mine is squishy, but it’s floppy. If anyone has any suggestions, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave a comment. Thank you so much!
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Contributed by Violet K on 29 March, 2020 - 8:08pm
Last updated 13 May, 2020 - 11:05am

Not Narceus
It is not in the Genus Narceus, and I don't think I would even hazard a guess without location info. A responsible online seller should be able to give you more information as to the species.

Knowing the species will also help determine the proper diet. Without this information, you will have to experiment some.
First, make sure there is ample substrate.
Then try putting in small amounts of leafy green vegetables, a peeled apple slice, or other uncooked fruits or vegetables to see what it likes.

For more information, there are many online resources from millipede vendors, or if you seriously plan on keeping more in future, possibly invest in one of the books by Orin McMonigle, such as Millipeds in Captivity: Diplopodan Husbandry and Reproductive Biology (Millipede Husbandry)
… Jeff Brown, 29 March, 2020 - 9:18pm login or register to post comments

 
Thank you so much!
We haven’t fed it fruits or veg yet because we don’t like fruit flies. Do you have any tips on how to keep them away? Also, another thing someone on Arachnoboards flagged was light rings around segments that indicates limp muscles. I will certainly check out that book to see what it suggests.
… Violet K, 30 March, 2020 - 8:12am login or register to post comments

 
Fruit Flies
To help reduce fruit flies and mold, remove uneaten food after a day or two.
I have only raised millipedes that are normally found in area where I live, so I can relatively easily recreate the conditions in which I found them.
I won't pretend to diagnose the health of your millipede, but I do know that limp is not a good sign.
… Jeff Brown, 30 March, 2020 - 9:27am login or register to post comments

 
Thanks!
Hopefully some veg will help. I’ve only had her for a couple days, and this was the condition she came in, so I don’t take full responsibility for her condition. I hope proper care will get her healthy. Since she’s around 5 inches, I’m assuming she’ll be growing? I’ve had some mixed results about the total length of n. americanus or the Sonoran desert millipede. Thanks for all your help!
… Violet K, 30 March, 2020 - 9:43am login or register to post comments

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