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Common name:Chinese red-headed centipede, mutilans centipede.
Maximum size: around 8".
Suggested cage size: a 10 gallon will hold a small group (<6 or so) , a larger enclosure will be necessary if a bigger group is desired.
Original habitat: China, not sure what part.
Temperature: 80-90°F.
Humidity: 75-85%, spray daily.
Diet: appropriately sized crickets, small vertebrates such as pinkie/fuzzy/small hopper mice or small lizards can be offered occasionally to larger specimens. There are unconfirmed reports of this species eating bits of peach and apple in addition to the normal Scolopendra diet.
Breeding: the female lays 30-60 relatively large eggs and coils around them, usually under a hidespot. The young are white when they first hatch, and stay with the mother for quite some time before venturing out on their own. Once they have discernable color they should be removed and raised apaart from the adults to minimize cannibalism. I know nothing about sexing or how to get them to mate in the first place.
Sexual dimorphism: none known.
Notes:Very easily confused with S. heros. castaneiceps from the southwest US. S.h.castaneiceps has a _black_, not dark green body, and has a more dorsally compressed body.
Has a potentially dangerous venom, do not freehandle for any reason. If you need to move them for any reason, do so by herding them into a glass jar with a probe. An account of a mutilans bite is available here.
It may leave an interesting scar (photo taken by machete of PFish). If you have an allergy to insect bites or stings, or a heart condition (turboTSI, I'm looking in your direction), I suggest you find a different pet.
A few words on caging; they do spend most of their time hiding under logs, use tons of cork bark. Substrate should be at least 2" thick. Peat, sphagnum, bark, and mixes of the above are all good choices. Make sure the cage is at least as tall as the longest 'pede is long. I also suggest removing the top half of the silicone holding the side together with a razor and rubbing alcohol. The plastic "critter keeper" cages should not be used, it's too easy for them to find purchase in the tiny flaws and cuts in the corners. I leave you with a shot of my mutilans enclosure as an example.
-PK
-"You don't realize what you're dealing with, do you? The perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility"
This post has been edited by BoomerSub: 29 July 2004 - 08:33 PM
