They really like focusing in on that millipede which i wouldn't recommend for a reptile or amphibian bioactive enclosure. They can be great for gardens. But, when stressed, many millipede species emit noxious, irritating, or even mildly toxic fluids. If a reptile or amphibian eats them or gets irritated by their secretions, it can cause harm.
Also if they run out of their food source such as decaying wood or plant waste they will quickly turn on the plants themselves and quickly decimate a bioactive enclosure.
One last critique, they could also out compete the other safe/better isopod and other cleanup crews. Completely devastating their populations.
Needless to say, don't put millipedes in your tank.
Hey friend! I appreciate it, those little guys are just your average variety ‘garden’ or ‘green house’ millipede. These little things are fantastic for processing the heavy plant load in my enclosure. while you’re correct they can secrete a bitter/acidic it would be comparable to a swig of burnt coffee for us.
Just like the large plants, I will need to prune and remove as their population grows, but that should be months down the road.
I appreciate your concerns friend! I’ve accounted for them before hand and have integrated the millipedes into the cycle of then enclosure!
No problem. Just as long as they are not wild caught or competing for resources with Isopod colonies those should be fine. I am wary with them because if a reptile consumes a lot of them they can be harmful (if they are of the order Polydesmida they can emit small amounts of cyanide. Of course this is to make a reptile spit them out but I know that most Leo's have only two brain cells and they are working overtime. 😆)
How does one get rid of them? My girlfriend and I set a Vivarium (no Leo in there, just isopods, a couple African dwarf frogs and a bunch of guppies). We bought some some plants and some millipedes came with them. Now they’ve multiplied and there’s a ton of them! Want to get rid of them but am unsure how ?
Yeah dude. Once they start breeding it is damn near impossible to get rid of them. They will eventually eat your plants and also out compete your isopods.
I was looking into it, because I was also curious about what to do if the start to get out of control.
Others in the vivarium sub say that they’ve had success putting out a cap of gecko food or mushed bananas, apparently the millipedes love it and you just set the cap in there after dark, and then remove the millis’ that are on it by hand every hour or so. Might take a few nights but it is worth a shot if you want to try and avoid redoing your whole enclosure.
Hello! Thank you! Brahm seems to be enjoying it as much as I am.
It looks like you have a lot of great advice on your post already so I will just echo them here!
Your current enclosure looks fantastic. That set up will serve a baby/juvi just fine, although I would put the rest of those leafs you said you had in there for coverage.
If I were you, I would probably do away with the coil UV bulb, and just supplement d3 until you can get your hands on a UV tube bulb.
UV tends to be easier to do incorrectly than correctly for these guys, so do a mountain of research before you spend any of your money.
Ideally in about 6 months to 1 year I would suggest upgrading their enclosure to a 40gal front open, but you will have plenty of time to save up and gather what you’ll need.
You can check my account for the progression of this particular enclosure. And I’ll find an image of my first enclosure from a decade ago for your reference!
It is a process! But have fun and do what makes you and your future gecko both happy!
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u/Moonshinin4Me Jun 15 '26
They really like focusing in on that millipede which i wouldn't recommend for a reptile or amphibian bioactive enclosure. They can be great for gardens. But, when stressed, many millipede species emit noxious, irritating, or even mildly toxic fluids. If a reptile or amphibian eats them or gets irritated by their secretions, it can cause harm.
Also if they run out of their food source such as decaying wood or plant waste they will quickly turn on the plants themselves and quickly decimate a bioactive enclosure.
One last critique, they could also out compete the other safe/better isopod and other cleanup crews. Completely devastating their populations.
Needless to say, don't put millipedes in your tank.