Millipedes — including the popular giant desert and African millipedes — are calm, slow, low-cost pets that gently curl around your fingers. They burrow, munch decaying leaves, and ask very little. A wonderful, low-stress first "bug" for gentle kids (with hand-washing).
Is a millipede a good pet for kids?
Quick answer: Millipedes are a good pet for the right kid. Millipedes — including the popular giant desert and African millipedes — are calm, slow, low-cost pets that gently curl around your fingers.
- 👍 Best for: gentle, slow, and easy to handle, allergy-friendly
- 👀 Keep in mind: need a humid tank with deep substrate
- ⏳ Lifespan: 5–10 years
- 💲 Ongoing cost: about $8–$18/mo (setup & vet extra)
📋 Millipede at a glance
Is a millipede right for you?
💚 Why you'll love a millipede
- Gentle, slow, and easy to handle
- Very low-maintenance and cheap
- Allergy-friendly
- Long-lived for a bug
⚠️ Things to know
- Need a humid tank with deep substrate
- Curl up and may release a harmless smelly fluid
- Not cuddly or interactive
- Mostly active at night
How to care for your Millipede
Millipede care in depth
Humidity and deep substrate are everything
Millipedes are burrowing detritivores, so their whole world is the substrate. Give them a deep layer — several inches, deeper than the millipede is long — of moist coconut fiber and topsoil mixed with decaying hardwood leaves and rotting wood, which is both their bedding and their food. Keep it consistently humid (mist as needed) but not waterlogged, with a shallow water dish. A tight-fitting lid holds humidity and keeps these surprising escape artists in.
Feeding and the calcium a big millipede needs
The base of the diet is the rotting leaf litter and wood in the tank, supplemented with soft fruits and vegetables like cucumber, squash, and melon. Giant species grow a hard exoskeleton and need calcium — a cuttlebone or a light calcium dusting on veggies helps them molt properly. Remove uneaten fresh food before it molds, and never disturb a millipede that has burrowed to molt, which is a vulnerable time for it.
Handling gently — and the harmless defensive fluid
Millipedes are calm and safe to handle gently — let one walk across flat hands held low over a soft surface. If stressed, many species curl into a spiral and release a harmless but smelly defensive fluid that can stain skin and, rarely, irritate eyes. It won't hurt you, but the rule is simple: always wash your hands afterward and don't rub your eyes first. Note that millipedes (which curl up and are harmless) are very different from centipedes (fast and venomous) — pet millipedes are the gentle ones.
Giant millipedes are calm, slow, and gentle — among the easiest 'bug' pets to keep, and some live 5–10 years. They're safe to hold gently and just trundle along.
✅ Before you bring a millipede home
🗓️ Your routine — easy chores to remember
- Mist lightly to keep humidity up
- Check the water dish
- Add fresh veggies or fruit and remove old food
- Check humidity and substrate moisture
- Spot-clean any mold
- Refresh part of the substrate
- Deep-clean as needed
- Check on molting (leave them be then)
💰 Monthly cost: Low: a small tank, substrate, and the millipede itself are inexpensive.
🤩 Fun facts about your Millipede
A big millipede can have more than 300 legs (none truly have a thousand).
❓ Common questions about millipedes
How much does a millipede cost per month?
Plan on roughly $8–$18 per month for food and supplies. Low: a small tank, substrate, and the millipede itself are inexpensive.
Are millipedes good pets for kids?
They can be — millipedes rate 3/5 for kid-friendliness, so they suit gentle, slightly older kids. Let them walk gently over flat hands low to a surface; wash hands afterward.
How long do millipedes live?
Millipedes typically live 5–10 years. Make sure your family is ready for that commitment before bringing one home.
Are millipedes allergy-friendly?
No fur or dander, so allergy-friendly. Always wash hands after handling.
Are millipedes good pets for kids?
Yes, with supervision — pet millipedes are gentle, slow, low-cost, and safe to handle, which makes them a great first "bug" for calm children. The only rules are gentle handling low over a surface and washing hands afterward, since they can release a harmless but staining defensive fluid.
Do pet millipedes bite or sting?
No. Millipedes don't bite or sting. Their only defense is curling into a spiral and releasing a harmless, smelly fluid if stressed, so wash your hands after handling and avoid touching your eyes. Centipedes, which are fast and venomous, are a completely different animal.
What do pet millipedes eat?
Mostly decaying hardwood leaves and rotting wood, which double as their bedding, plus soft fruits and vegetables like cucumber and squash. Giant species also need a calcium source, such as a cuttlebone, to molt and build their exoskeleton.
How long do pet millipedes live?
Long for an invertebrate — many giant species live around 5–10 years with the right humid, substrate-rich setup, making them a surprisingly long-term little pet.
🎬 Millipede care videos
Watch beginner-friendly care videos for your millipede.
▶ Watch Millipede care videos on YouTube
