The Many Sides of a Red Millipede
October 25th, 2009 Posted in Centipedes & Millipedes 
Most larger millipedes, like the Tanzanian red leg millipede, make wonderful pets. But, in large numbers they can quickly become a pest. They are normally very docile, but if threatened they can become poisonous in no time.
This piece will discuss:
Millipedes as Pets
As a pet the Tanzanian red leg millipede can quickly become a family favorite. They are extremely calm and easy to handle. The millipede has a black frame with red legs running down its entire body.
They require very little upkeep, other than being kept in a tank with leaves and being fed fruit and vegetables. The millipede must have enough room to walk around in its cage. It’s recommended they you use a 10-15 gallon aquarium, so the millipede has proper room to live.
It’s also better to have two millipedes than one because they do better in captivity with another millipede by their side. If you care to have a particular sex of millipede, than the difference between the sexes is that the male millipede has a shiny body, while the females have a dull coloration throughout their body.
Millipedes as Pests
It is very uncommon to stumble upon a Tanzanian red leg millipede hanging out in the backyard of your American home because they aren’t native to the United States. However, they’re many different species of millipedes that are native to the United States.
These can easily become pests in your home because they’re searching for moisture and food. They don’t cause any problems once inside your home, but in big numbers they can be unsightly and annoying. When you find one millipede, it’s common for another to arise.
So make sure you identify the source of these bugs entering your home quickly, to help quell the problem and limit the amount of millipedes entering your home.
Millipedes as Poisonous
Normally docile, they only become a danger to your family once handled incorrectly. Acting out in their own defense, the millipedes release a harmful substance once they feel threatened. If the toxin gets on your skin it can cause your skin to turn brown, itch or burn, and cause blisters.
It all depends upon each person’s susceptibility to the toxin they get on their skin. If the poison gets in your eyes it can cause conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of your eyelid, and keratitis, which is an inflamed cornea. In rare cases, contact with the toxin to a person’s eyes has caused blindness.
This can happen if the toxin is not thoroughly washed out of the eye. Secretions of millipedes should be washed from the skin and eyes with large amounts of soap and water, to ensure it’s out of your system for good.
To ensure that neither the Tanzanian red leg millipede nor any other millipede poisons your family, use EcoSMART’s organic pesticides today.
