Celebes Rainbow Centipede for sale from Big Z's (Scolopendra subspinipes). Spice-rated keeper notes, care guidance, and live-arrival packing where eligible.
Blue-green fire, orange legs, and venom you never want to meet
Scolopendra subspinipes, the Celebes Rainbow Centipede, is the showpiece of the giant centipedes. This is the true species in its Celebes rainbow form from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the old Celebes. A blue-green iridescent sheen rides over a dark body, bright orange-yellow legs, and a red-brown head, making it one of the most colorful large centipedes in the hobby at a full 6 to 8 inches. A quick honesty note: the heavier mainland yellow-leg animal often sold under this same name is actually S. dehaani, which Big Z lists separately.
This is a look, do not touch, tools-only animal with medically significant venom, so the handling rule is never, and it is reserved for experienced keepers only. It is fast, strong, and a determined escape artist, which means a deep bed of packed, moisture-retentive substrate and a locking lid are both mandatory. Give it a humid burrow zone with a slightly drier surface, a snug hide, and a shallow water dish. Stunning to display, serious to keep: the care guide covers the containment and the boundaries.
The numbers live in the care guide. Enclosure size, temps, humidity, feeding schedule, premolt signs, handling boundaries: it's all in the care guide for this exact fella. Start with the full Advanced guide, or click for the quick Open the Simple version →
Centipede
Burrow Buddy fits the listed juvenile size, but the animal may outgrow it at full adult size. Plan for larger custom terrestrial enclosure. Ask Big Z if you need help choosing the next enclosure.
Celebes Rainbow Centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes) care guide Read shipping & LAG
Celebes Rainbow Centipede for sale from Big Z's (Scolopendra subspinipes). Spice-rated keeper notes, care guidance, and live-arrival packing where eligible.
Blue-green fire, orange legs, and venom you never want to meet
Scolopendra subspinipes, the Celebes Rainbow Centipede, is the showpiece of the giant centipedes. This is the true species in its Celebes rainbow form from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, the old Celebes. A blue-green iridescent sheen rides over a dark body, bright orange-yellow legs, and a red-brown head, making it one of the most colorful large centipedes in the hobby at a full 6 to 8 inches. A quick honesty note: the heavier mainland yellow-leg animal often sold under this same name is actually S. dehaani, which Big Z lists separately.
This is a look, do not touch, tools-only animal with medically significant venom, so the handling rule is never, and it is reserved for experienced keepers only. It is fast, strong, and a determined escape artist, which means a deep bed of packed, moisture-retentive substrate and a locking lid are both mandatory. Give it a humid burrow zone with a slightly drier surface, a snug hide, and a shallow water dish. Stunning to display, serious to keep: the care guide covers the containment and the boundaries.
The numbers live in the care guide. Enclosure size, temps, humidity, feeding schedule, premolt signs, handling boundaries: it's all in the care guide for this exact fella. Start with the full Advanced guide, or click for the quick Open the Simple version →
Scolopendra subspinipes - Spice 5: Extreme (Medical Significance). Baby Buddy for hatchlings/1st instars; Burrow Buddy for juvenile-to-subadult; Larger custom terrestrial for adults: this is a committed deep burrower and Burrow Buddy's ~6 in depth is a stopover, not a forever enclosure
Scolopendra subspinipes
Big Z's Quick Verdict: The classic, most widely kept giant centipede in the hobby: red-brown body, yellow-orange legs, adults commonly 6-8 inches (exceptional individuals past 10). Fast, smart, and genuinely dangerous to mishandle.
| Temp | 75-85°F day, not under 70°F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | Ambient 65-90%, cross-ventilated at substrate level; dry refuge zone |
| Setup | Tropical burrowing/fossorial terrestrial |
| Substrate | Deep (6 in+) packed coco fiber/soil blend |
| Feeding | Roaches/crickets, no longer than half the body |
| Handling | NEVER |
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Current Big Z's catalog: Yes
Scolopendra subspinipes
Keeper Snapshot: The classic, most widely kept giant centipede in the hobby: red-brown body, yellow-orange legs, adults commonly 6-8 inches (exceptional individuals past 10). Fast, smart, and genuinely dangerous to mishandle.
| Temperature | 75-85°F day, not under 70°F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | Ambient 65-90%, cross-ventilated at substrate level; dry refuge zone |
| Setup Type | Tropical burrowing/fossorial terrestrial |
| Substrate | Deep (6 in+) packed coco fiber/soil blend |
| Feeding | Roaches/crickets, no longer than half the body |
| Care Difficulty | Spice 5: Extreme (Medical Significance) |
| Handling | NEVER |
Humidity zones: Very Low under 30% - Low 30-60% - Low-Moderate 40-70% - Moderate 60-80% - Moderate-High 70-85% - High 80%+ - Very High 90%+
Scorpion
Scorpion
Tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantula
Tarantula
Scorpion
