Millipede Care Guide: Natural History, Millipede Substrate Setup & Bioactive Vivarium Success

If you’re searching for how to care for millipedes, what substrate millipedes need, or how to build the perfect bioactive vivarium for millipedes, this complete guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Millipede care starts with understanding their natural history and replicating forest floor conditions inside your enclosure.

Natural History of Millipedes (Why Proper Millipede Care Matters)

Millipedes belong to the class Diplopoda and are among the oldest land animals on Earth, with fossil records dating back over 400 million years. These ancient arthropods are essential decomposers in forest ecosystems.

In the wild, millipedes live in:

• Aged Hardwood Leaf Litter

• Rotting hardwood logs

• Humus-rich forest soil

• Moist tropical forest floors

This is why proper millipede substrate composition is the most important factor in successful millipede keeping.

Millipedes are detritivores, meaning they feed primarily on decomposing hardwood leaves and rotten wood. Their constant processing of organic matter contributes to soil formation and nutrient cycling.

Understanding their ecological role helps you build a more accurate bioactive vivarium setup for millipedes.

Complete Millipede Care Guide for Beginners & Advanced Keepers

Whether you're keeping giant African millipedes, Florida ivory millipedes, bumblebee millipedes, or giant desert millipedes, the fundamentals of millipede care remain consistent.

Best Enclosure for Millipedes

When setting up an enclosure for millipedes:

• Use a glass terrarium or plastic tub

• Maintain moderate ventilation

• Prioritize humidity retention

• Provide deep substrate for burrowing

A proper enclosure is the foundation of successful long-term millipede care in captivity.

Best Millipede Substrate (Most Important Factor)

If you’re wondering what is the best substrate for millipedes, here is the answer:

A proper millipede substrate must:

• Retain moisture without becoming waterlogged

• Contain decomposing hardwood matter

• Support microbial activity

• Allow deep burrowing

• Provide nutritional value

Substrate depth should equal the average body length of your millipede. For breeding setups, deeper millipede substrate layers are recommended.

Moisture Test for Millipede Substrate

To test substrate moisture:

• Squeeze a handful firmly

• No water should drip out

• It should feel damp, not muddy

Too-wet millipede substrate is the #1 cause of millipede deaths in captivity.

Humidity & Temperature for Millipedes

Proper humidity is critical for tropical millipede species.

Ideal range:

• 70–80% humidity

• 70–80°F for most species

• 80–87°F for some tropical species like Jamaican Bumblebee Millipedes

If you’re researching millipede temperature requirements, room temperature works for most commonly kept species.

Avoid excessive ventilation unless keeping desert millipede species.

What Do Millipedes Eat? (Diet & Nutrition Guide)

A common question is: What do millipedes eat in captivity?

Millipedes require:

• Aged hardwood leaf litter

• Properly decomposed rotten hardwood

• Nutrient-rich millipede substrate

• Occasional low-moisture vegetables

Aged Hardwood Leaves for Millipedes

Millipedes feed primarily on decomposing hardwood leaves.

For optimal digestion:

• Use aged hardwood leaves

• Crush leaves before adding them

• Keep leaf layer separate from substrate

Crushed leaves increase feeding efficiency and stabilize moisture levels in your millipede bioactive vivarium.

Rotten Hardwood for Millipedes

Rotten hardwood is essential for proper millipede nutrition.

It must:

• Be soft and spongy

• Contain cellulose

• Never be pine

• Not be fully decomposed

If you’re searching why rotten wood is important for millipedes, the answer lies in cellulose content — a major dietary component.

Supplemental Foods for Millipedes

Low-moisture vegetables like yellow squash can be offered occasionally.

Avoid:

• Cucumber

• Melon

• High-water fruits

Excess moisture leads to dangerous anaerobic conditions in the millipede substrate.

Moisture Problems in Millipede Substrate (And How to Avoid Them)

If you’re wondering why your millipede is staying on the surface, excess moisture may be the cause.

When millipede substrate becomes saturated:

• Oxygen gets depleted

• Anaerobic bacteria develop

• Denitrification occurs

• Millipedes may suffocate underground

Managing moisture is the most critical part of advanced millipede care.

How to Build a Vivarium for Millipedes

A properly layered bioactive vivarium setup for millipedes includes:

Bottom Layer

Deep, moist millipede substrate.

Middle Layer

Crushed aged hardwood leaves.

Top Layer

Rotten hardwood pieces.

Never mix layers. Layer separation prevents fungus gnats and moisture imbalance.

Turning Over Millipede Substrate Safely

Over time, millipede substrate compacts.

If you need to refresh substrate:

• Remove leaf and wood layers

• Carefully excavate

• Protect any molting millipedes

• Fluff substrate thoroughly

• Reassemble layers

Never rebury a molting millipede.

Signs of Healthy Millipedes

Healthy millipedes:

• Are active at night

• Burrow regularly

• Feed on leaves and wood

• Maintain smooth exoskeleton appearance

If researching why is my millipede not moving, check substrate moisture first.

Millipede Breeding Basics

For those searching how to breed millipedes, success depends on:

• Deep millipede substrate

• Stable humidity

• Consistent nutrition

• Minimal disturbance

Eggs are laid underground and juveniles resemble miniature adults.

Final Thoughts on Successful Millipede Care

Proper millipede care depends on recreating forest floor conditions inside your enclosure.

If you focus on:

• High-quality millipede substrate

• Correct humidity

• Proper leaf litter

• Clean rotten hardwood

• Stable bioactive vivarium layering

Your millipedes will thrive, grow, and reproduce successfully.