Giant African Train Millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas) Care Sheet

Quick Facts

Behavior

• Calm, slow-moving, and very docile.

• Primarily nocturnal; hides in substrate or leaf litter during the day.

• Rolls into a spiral when threatened; secretes a harmless defensive fluid.

• Social species; can be housed with others if space allows.

Enclosure Requirements

• Tank Size: Minimum 40 liters for adults; larger for multiple millipedes

• Substrate: 8–15 cm layer of coconut fiber, leaf litter, or soil mix; keep slightly moist

• Decor: Logs, cork bark, rocks, leaf litter, moss

• Humidity: 75–85% (consistent moisture needed for molting)

• Temperature:

  • Day: 22–27°C

  • Night: 20–24°C

• Lighting: Indirect light; avoid bright lights

• Ventilation: Moderate airflow to prevent mold while maintaining humidity

Compatibility

• Social species; can house multiple millipedes together.

• Avoid aggressive or predatory arthropods.

• Non-aggressive toward other invertebrates that do not trigger stress.

Diet

• Detritivore; feeds primarily on decaying plant matter.

• Foods:

  • Leaf litter

  • Decayed vegetables and fruits (apple, carrot, cucumber)

  • Occasional calcium supplementation via cuttlebone or powdered calcium

• Feed small amounts daily; remove uneaten or moldy food promptly.

Care Tips

• Maintain consistently moist substrate for hydration and healthy molting.

• Provide hiding spaces with leaf litter or logs.

• Avoid overhandling; millipedes are delicate.

• Keep away from direct sunlight or excessive heat.

• Clean enclosure every 2–4 weeks; remove waste and mold.

Breeding

• Oviparous; lays eggs in substrate.

• Eggs hatch in 3–4 months depending on temperature and humidity.

• Juveniles are smaller versions of adults; require similar care with slightly higher humidity.

• Multiple juveniles can be housed together if space allows.

Visual Quick Guide

• 🏠 Enclosure: ≥40 L, moist substrate, hiding spots

• 🌡️ Temp: Day 22–27°C / Night 20–24°C

• 💧 Humidity: 75–85%

• 🍴 Diet: Detritivore (leaf litter, vegetables, fruits)

• 🕒 Activity: Nocturnal / crepuscular

• ⚠️ Stress: Avoid handling; provide hides

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