Found millipede (Sigh)

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Posted by Heket on November 04, 2001 at 11:23:31:

Well, the wandering giant african black millipede was found in the kitchen several days ago, having traversed a hall, a flight of stairs, the living room (a long way) and lived under the refridgerator for several months. He was covered in lint, and slightly flaccid, so he was immeadiately put back in the cage and misted. He would not eat or uncurl the first few segments of his body, and stayed approximately where I put him in the cage. He might have eaten some pumpkin, but his legs stopped moving and he is quite limp and floppy, so I have assumed that he is dead. The other millipede is fine and eating well, so I don't think the escapee caught a disease, but he might have gotten into a roach trap, or simply died of weakness and age. I got both at a reptile show, and they appear full-grown, so I can't guess how old they are. I have a book on millipedes, The Guide to Owning Millipedes and Centipedes by Jerry G. Walls, and it states, "Of course, any specimens that die should be preserved immeadiately, preferably before they fall apart into separate segments: regular 70% rubbing alchohol works well, but you will have to change it at least twice during the first week or so as it becomes discolored." I'm not sure if I should do that or just bury the thing and have done with it. I mean, it's probably the most common species available.

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aww poor guy Marty the Moray's Mom 01/17/02 (0)

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: Well, the wandering giant african black millipede was found in the kitchen several days ago, having traversed a hall, a flight of stairs, the living room (a long way) and lived under the refridgerator for several months. He was covered in lint, and slightly flaccid, so he was immeadiately put back in the cage and misted. He would not eat or uncurl the first few segments of his body, and stayed approximately where I put him in the cage. He might have eaten some pumpkin, but his legs stopped moving and he is quite limp and floppy, so I have assumed that he is dead. The other millipede is fine and eating well, so I don't think the escapee caught a disease, but he might have gotten into a roach trap, or simply died of weakness and age. I got both at a reptile show, and they appear full-grown, so I can't guess how old they are. I have a book on millipedes, The Guide to Owning Millipedes and Centipedes by Jerry G. Walls, and it states, "Of course, any specimens that die should be preserved immeadiately, preferably before they fall apart into separate segments: regular 70% rubbing alchohol works well, but you will have to change it at least twice during the first week or so as it becomes discolored." I'm not sure if I should do that or just bury the thing and have done with it. I mean, it's probably the most common species available.

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