Posted by robtszymanski on April 11, 2003 at 03:26:28:
In Reply to: Re: PLEASE HELP!!! posted by KoolKEL on March 28, 2003 at 18:37:12:
:Hey, thanks. I think that's what was happening, because he's fine now.
:-Kurt
:: It sounds like he/she is in the process of a molt and extension. Raise the humidity level by 5-15% and temp by 5 degrees Fahrenheit to compensate and he/she should be fine. It doesn't sound like any disease I have ever heard of or read about on pedes.
::adios,
::edw.
:: :I have a millipede that is about 3 in. long. I checked him out today and the last 1/2 in. of his legs weren't moving. I noticed because he was dragging his butt around. When I picked him up, his legs could move. But then when I put him down again, they didn't. He kept walking and dragging his butt. I looked closer then and found a crack (sort of a slit, could see whiteness) underneath his body, about 1/2 in. in from his butt. Does anyone know what's wrong? Is he injured? Going to die? Please respond. He doesn't act like he's hurt, but I don't know how to tell if he is or not.
::from Robt Szymanski: I had the very same problems in the past. when they DO molt, i hope yer soil is at least 4 inches deep and poured in loosely NOT packed or they won't be able to dig down deep in the soil to shed their exoskeleton. I have several types of soil mixed together along with pumice so they have something to rub against, much like snakes do in captivity. I have snakes in tanks with rocks, tree branches, etc.
After they shed, they'll come up to the surface. They won't look dark yet for several days. Ever see a freshly molted cricket? They're nearly white in colour and darkens in days.. ditto for the pedes. DON'T TOUCH YER PET FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. Give their exoskeleton a chance to harden.... touch them, they'll die.. I made this fatal mistake with some giant pedes over 10 years ago. After they shed,leave them alone for at least several MONTHS to be on the safe side... And i hope yers don't die in the soil. If they do come up, sometimes there's a high morality rate. some will make it thru a molt and some won't... i had many of them die on me in the past and it's frustrating..... robt..
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