African Giant Millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas)
Millipede
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Spice 1 · Kid Friendly
How the Spice System works
Kid friendly
Lower-risk animals a child can help care for, with an adult in charge. For watching, not handling.
WC: Wild caught
Collected from the wild and settled in at Big Z's before it ships. Many species, adults especially, are rarely bred in captivity.
Big Z's notes
About this Fella
Rainbow Violet Millipede for sale from Big Z's (Atopochetus dollfusii). Comes with a Spice rating and a care guide, and ships packed for the weather.
Atopochetus dollfusii (Rainbow Violet Millipede)
Silver-grey rings banded in rust red, with red legs rippling underneath. The Rainbow Violet is the Vietnamese rainbow millipede, a tropical burrower that spends a lot of its time under the leaf litter and grows to about 4 to 5 inches. Ours are about 3 inches and wild-caught. They do well in a group with a deep, edible bed of rotted hardwood leaves and wood. Grab a Rainbow Violet today, or a few for a group.
Why do hobbyists keep the Rainbow Violet?
- The Rings: silver-grey and rust-red banding with red legs.
- Group Friendly: keep several together in a deep, well-fed bin.
- Easy Diet: rotted hardwood leaves and wood are food and home in one.
How should the Rainbow Violet be kept?
- Adult Size: about 4 to 5 inches long.
- Enclosure: a deep bin of rotted hardwood leaves, rotted wood and organic soil, vented low on two opposite walls so air crosses the substrate.
- Temperature: 72 to 80 degrees F. Keepers find them touchy about big swings.
- Humidity: 70 to 85 percent. A moist lower layer and a drier surface.
- Water: a shallow dish packed with pebbles.
- Diet: rotted leaves and wood at all times, cuttlebone for calcium, light veggies as treats. No citrus.
- Temperament: shy and slow. It burrows and curls up when bothered. No venom, but like many millipedes it can release a defensive fluid, so keep contact brief, keep it away from eyes and mouth, and wash your hands after. A fall can injure it.
Are there any additional notes or considerations?
- Wild-Caught: sold at about 3 inches.
- Name Check: also sold as Tonkinbolus dollfusi and the Vietnamese Rainbow Millipede. The accepted name is Atopochetus dollfusii, and rainbow millipedes from Thailand and Vietnam get mixed up in the trade.
- Leave Them Buried: one that disappears for days is usually molting. Never dig it up.
- Spice Level 1: Kid Friendly. One animal, shipped live on FedEx Overnight, Monday to Wednesday. Live Arrival Guarantee on overnight orders.
Full care is in the care guide. It covers enclosure size, temperature, humidity, feeding, molting signs and handling limits for this species. Read the Advanced guide, or the shorter Simple guide →
- Lane
- Spice 1 · Kid Friendly
- Source
- WC: wild caught.
Rainbow Violet Millipede (Atopochetus dollfusii)
Millipede
Keeper feedback
$29.993" (Subadult) WC selected
More Spice 1 animals
Spice 1 · Kid Friendly
How the Spice System works
In stock, ships from Big Z HQ
12 available right now
Ready to ship
At a glance
The quick read on this fella
- Adult size
- 4-5 in long
- Venom
- No venom
- May release defensive fluid
- Type
- Fossorial
- Burrower
- Climate
- 72-80°F · 70-85%
- Moist lower layer, drier surface
- Feeding
- Rotted leaves and wood
- Cuttlebone, light veggies, no citrus
- Housing
- Communal group
From our Red Dragon Millipede care guide. Read the full guide
Live animals ship Mon to Wed
FedEx Standard Overnight $44.99 or Priority Overnight $49.99, both with the Live Arrival Guarantee; free overnight on orders $499.99 and up. FedEx 2Day $34.99 has no guarantee and needs a signed waiver. Pickup in the Phoenix area or at an expo is free (arrange with Big Z first). Weather holds are free and we message you first.
Live arrival support
Every order is packed for that week’s weather. Not sure if Rainbow Violet Millipede is your spice level? Message us and we’ll talk it through.
Big Z's here to help
Not sure if Rainbow Violet Millipede is your spice level? Message us and we’ll talk it through.
Care guide Shipping and Live Arrival Guarantee
About this Fella Big Z's notes
Rainbow Violet Millipede for sale from Big Z's (Atopochetus dollfusii). Comes with a Spice rating and a care guide, and ships packed for the weather.
Atopochetus dollfusii (Rainbow Violet Millipede)
Silver-grey rings banded in rust red, with red legs rippling underneath. The Rainbow Violet is the Vietnamese rainbow millipede, a tropical burrower that spends a lot of its time under the leaf litter and grows to about 4 to 5 inches. Ours are about 3 inches and wild-caught. They do well in a group with a deep, edible bed of rotted hardwood leaves and wood. Grab a Rainbow Violet today, or a few for a group.
Why do hobbyists keep the Rainbow Violet?
- The Rings: silver-grey and rust-red banding with red legs.
- Group Friendly: keep several together in a deep, well-fed bin.
- Easy Diet: rotted hardwood leaves and wood are food and home in one.
How should the Rainbow Violet be kept?
- Adult Size: about 4 to 5 inches long.
- Enclosure: a deep bin of rotted hardwood leaves, rotted wood and organic soil, vented low on two opposite walls so air crosses the substrate.
- Temperature: 72 to 80 degrees F. Keepers find them touchy about big swings.
- Humidity: 70 to 85 percent. A moist lower layer and a drier surface.
- Water: a shallow dish packed with pebbles.
- Diet: rotted leaves and wood at all times, cuttlebone for calcium, light veggies as treats. No citrus.
- Temperament: shy and slow. It burrows and curls up when bothered. No venom, but like many millipedes it can release a defensive fluid, so keep contact brief, keep it away from eyes and mouth, and wash your hands after. A fall can injure it.
Are there any additional notes or considerations?
- Wild-Caught: sold at about 3 inches.
- Name Check: also sold as Tonkinbolus dollfusi and the Vietnamese Rainbow Millipede. The accepted name is Atopochetus dollfusii, and rainbow millipedes from Thailand and Vietnam get mixed up in the trade.
- Leave Them Buried: one that disappears for days is usually molting. Never dig it up.
- Spice Level 1: Kid Friendly. One animal, shipped live on FedEx Overnight, Monday to Wednesday. Live Arrival Guarantee on overnight orders.
Full care is in the care guide. It covers enclosure size, temperature, humidity, feeding, molting signs and handling limits for this species. Read the Advanced guide, or the shorter Simple guide →
- Lane
- Spice 1 · Kid Friendly
- Source
- WC: wild caught.
What ships with this order Care + shipping
- A free care guide for this species
- A heat or cold pack when the forecast calls for it
- Tracking and an arrival window before it ships
- Message Big Z about your animal for as long as you keep it
Care guideSpice 1 · Kid Friendly
Matched care guide
View in Care Guides library
Red Dragon Millipede
Atopochetus dollfusii (trade name: Tonkinbolus dollfusi) · Spice 1: Kid Friendly. Baby Buddy: juveniles. Deep edible substrate and a pebble-filled water dish. Burrow Buddy: adults and groups. Scale depth, leaf litter and rotting wood to the group.
Atopochetus dollfusii (trade name: Tonkinbolus dollfusi)
Sold under its hobby name. This guide covers the group or trade name this fella is sold as, so the ranges fit the whole group. Start in the middle and watch how your animal settles in.
Red Dragon Millipede
Big Z's Quick Verdict: A red-banded tropical millipede that does well in groups. Give it a deep, edible bed of rotted hardwood leaves and wood, moist below with air moving across the top, plus calcium.
Group: Industry StaplesDifficulty: Spice 1: Kid FriendlySetup: Humid tropical burrower, deep edible substrateHandling: Brief contact tolerated, a fall can injure it
Use This Guide Safely
- Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
- Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
- Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Care Snapshot
| Temp | 72-80°F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | 70-85%: moist lower layer, drier surface |
| Setup | Humid tropical burrower, deep edible substrate |
| Substrate | Deep rotted hardwood leaves, rotted wood, soil, moist below |
| Feeding | Rotted leaves and wood, cuttlebone, light veggies, no citrus |
| Handling | Brief contact tolerated, a fall can injure it |
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%+
Recommended Big Z's Setup
- Baby Buddy: juveniles. Deep edible substrate and a pebble-filled water dish.
- Burrow Buddy: adults and groups. Scale depth, leaf litter and rotting wood to the group.
Critical Notes
- Do not let the substrate dry out. It is their food as well as their home, so keep the lower layer moist.
- Pack the water dish with pebbles so juveniles cannot drown.
- Millipedes molt buried and go still for days or weeks. Never dig one up, and keep that spot damp.
- No citrus, treated wood or pesticides.
- A still, damp bin sours and they stop grazing. Vent low on two opposite walls so air crosses the substrate.
- Handling is optional, and a fall can injure it.
Care Basics
- Build a deep, edible substrate of decayed hardwood leaves, rotted wood and organic soil.
- Vent low on two opposite walls so air keeps crossing the substrate surface.
- Keep the lower layer moist with airflow above. A moss patch helps.
- Keep a shallow water dish packed with pebbles.
- Keep groups in a roomy, deep, well-fed bin.
- Keep cuttlebone in for calcium. Veggies are treats, never citrus.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Decayed hardwood leaves and rotted wood are the staple diet. Cuttlebone for calcium, veggies only as occasional extras. No citrus, treated wood or pesticides.
- Keep fruit and veg light and pull it before it spoils, or you get flies and mold.
- Molting: they seal into an underground chamber and go still for days or weeks. Never dig one up, keep that spot damp, and keep cuttlebone in. They eat the shed for calcium.
Current Big Z's catalog: No
Atopochetus dollfusii (trade name: Tonkinbolus dollfusi)
Sold under its hobby name. This guide covers the group or trade name this fella is sold as, so the ranges fit the whole group. Start in the middle and watch how your animal settles in.
Red Dragon Millipede: Advanced Care Guide
Keeper Snapshot: A red-banded tropical millipede that does well in groups. Give it a deep, edible bed of rotted hardwood leaves and wood, moist below with air moving across the top, plus calcium.
Group: Industry StaplesDifficulty: Spice 1: Kid FriendlySetup: Humid tropical burrower, deep edible substrateHandling: Brief contact tolerated, a fall can injure it
Use This Guide Safely
- Confirm the exact animal. Match this guide to the species, locality, size, and life stage on your label. If the ID is uncertain, use the more conservative part of the range and ask before changing the setup.
- Change one thing at a time. Treat temperature and humidity as target zones, then watch posture, burrowing, drinking, feeding, and molt behavior before making another adjustment.
- Respect the handling boundary. If the guide says no handling, fast, defensive, or medically significant, plan transfers with catch cups, locked lids, and no bare hands. For serious bites, stings, or symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Quick Snapshot
| Temperature | 72-80°F |
|---|---|
| Humidity | 70-85%: moist lower layer, drier surface |
| Setup Type | Humid tropical burrower, deep edible substrate |
| Substrate | Deep rotted hardwood leaves, rotted wood, soil, moist below |
| Feeding | Rotted leaves and wood, cuttlebone, light veggies, no citrus |
| Care Difficulty | Spice 1: Kid Friendly |
| Handling | Brief contact tolerated, a fall can injure it |
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%+
Enclosure Format / Size Class
- Juveniles: Baby Buddy with deep edible substrate, moist below
- Adults and groups: Burrow Buddy, substrate depth and food scaled to the group
Warnings First
- Do not let the substrate dry out. It is their food as well as their home, so keep the lower layer moist.
- Pack the water dish with pebbles so juveniles cannot drown.
- Millipedes molt buried and go still for days or weeks. Never dig one up, and keep that spot damp.
- No citrus, treated wood or pesticides.
- A still, damp bin sours and they stop grazing. Vent low on two opposite walls so air crosses the substrate.
- Handling is optional, and a fall can injure it.
Simple Care
- Build a deep, edible substrate of decayed hardwood leaves, rotted wood and organic soil.
- Vent low on two opposite walls so air keeps crossing the substrate surface.
- Keep the lower layer moist with airflow above. A moss patch helps.
- Keep a shallow water dish packed with pebbles.
- Keep groups in a roomy, deep, well-fed bin.
- Keep cuttlebone in for calcium. Veggies are treats, never citrus.
Advanced Keeper Notes
Enclosure & Microclimate
- Vent at or just above the substrate on two opposite walls. The substrate is food, so a still damp bin does not just mold, it sours and they stop grazing.
- Carry the moisture in the deep layer, not in still air, then ventilate freely.
- Check by squeeze and smell. Lower substrate clumps like a wrung-out sponge with no free water and smells like forest floor. Sour or ammonia means more air and fresh substrate.
- Mist under the leaf litter and moss, not over the surface. The visible surface stays clean instead of sodden.
- Groups do fine when substrate depth, leaf litter and rotting wood are scaled to the group, not the display cup.
Feeding, Growth & Maintenance
- Decayed hardwood leaves and rotted wood are the staple diet. Cuttlebone for calcium, veggies only as occasional extras. No citrus, treated wood or pesticides.
- Keep fruit and veg light and pull it before it spoils, or you get flies and mold.
- Molting: they seal into an underground chamber and go still for days or weeks. Never dig one up, keep that spot damp, and keep cuttlebone in. They eat the shed for calcium.
Possible Origin / Range
- Likely native range: Vietnam, in tropical forest leaf litter.
- Habitat translation: Forest leaf litter becomes a deep, edible bed of hardwood leaves and rotted wood, moist below with air moving across it, plus cuttlebone and detritus to graze.
Advanced Keeper Details
- Adults reach about 4-5 in. A long-lived detritivore.
- Beginner-friendly once you get the deep edible substrate idea.
- Name note: sold as Tonkinbolus dollfusi, but the accepted name is Atopochetus dollfusii, family Pachybolidae.
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