Thinking about getting a centipede

Hey

Im thinking about getting a centipede, Ive been all over the net trying to get information on these freaky creatures.
Im thinking of ordering from this site

http://www.exotic-pets.co.uk/centipedes-for-sale.html

Heres what they have

Amazon Centipede (Scolopendra angulata angulata)

Fan Tailed Centipedes (Alipes grandidieri)

Haiti Giant Centipede (Scolopendra alternans)

Any recommendations? Looking for somthing active and aggressive I really like the look of the Amazon Centipede.



Does anyone have an idea of how long they live?
Ive read that you feed them crikets 2-3 times weekly, is this true?
Are they an exciting pet to keep and observe? (i.e Are they active or do they hide a lot?)
Anyone ever get bitten by one?
Ive read that they are masters of escape, true?

Sorry for all the questions but im just curious

I got a baby Scolopendra subspinipes a few years ago and it looks subadultish in size.

I haven't fed it in a few weeks and it's fine (I should probably feed it again soon).

Some have bites that aren't worth mentioning, some hurt like hell, and S. subspinipes will hurt like hell for three days (also the only species with a human fatality).

Some hang out in their hide, some explore and try to find ways to escape.

I highly recommend double-tanking to prevent escapes. They can squeeze through VERY narrow openings. I currently house mine in a very tall plastic snack container with enough substrate to burrow but not enough that it can reach the lid, which has six very small holes drilled in it.

And for the love of all that is holy, don't try handling it.

Ha, cheers for the reply man, theres no way id handle one, and if I did get one I think id get a smallish tank for it. Saw a few crazy videos on youtube with centipedes eatin mice so some of them must have seriously powerfull pincers/fangs.

I had an S.Deehani

One of the bigger ones.

They live pretty long. a couple years.

You can feed them 3 times a week, yes.
Some even eat bananas.

Like most athropods, they lie still for a majority of their life.

But when they do roam around... you better be careful.
They're FAST, both in speed and reflex. They pounce on their prey then kind of encircle it and constantly chew on it.

Yeah, they can escape easily.
I had a locked top.

Only one death I believe in all of history... and that's most likely due to allergic raeaction.

And no, don't handle. They're more likely to bite then a T.

Forgot to mention -- if ANY of their legs gets a hold on something, they can pull their whole body into it. Classic example is poking their terminal legs with something, having them clamp down, and swinging their whole body around to dart up the poker.

Would really hate to learn that the hard way!

I heard the amazonian giants can cause fever ands chills is that true?

diabollicallycursed wrote:

I heard the amazonian giants can cause fever ands chills is that true?

Yes.

i have a S. subspinipes. mine doesnt come to the surface and i have to dig it up to feed it... it has never tried to escape but i still cover the lid with steel mesh.
they have a really bad reputataion and there are too many myths associated with them that they can climb glass and chew through thick plastic etc etc... but they do look very nice.