Lava Centipede for sale from Big Z's (Scolopendra subspinipes 'Piceoflava'). Spice-rated keeper notes, care guidance, and live-arrival packing where eligible.
Jet-black armor, gold-banded legs, a head that burns fire-red
Scolopendra subspinipes 'Piceoflava', the Lava Centipede, is the dramatic dark color form of the giant Asian centipede, and it earns every bit of its name. A near-black body runs up from gold-orange banded legs to a burning red head. At a full-grown 8 to 10 inches, this is one of the most striking large centipedes in the trade, and it moves like the substrate under it is on fire.
Be honest with yourself before you buy: this is an Extreme, Spice 5 animal with medically significant venom, and the rule is tools only, every single time the lid comes off. Never handle it. It is extremely fast, a committed climber, and a proven escape artist, so a deep bed of packed, moisture-retentive substrate under a secure locking lid is not optional. Give it a humid burrow with a drier surface zone, a snug hide, and a shallow water dish, and it becomes a genuine showpiece for the experienced keeper. The care guide walks you through containment and the full handling protocol before it ships.
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 →
