Giant centipede (Ethmostigmus rubripes)

Short answers

Giant centipede: How big does the enclosure need to be?

30×30×30 cm, horizontal, escape-proof.

Giant centipede: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–29 °C, at night ~20–22 °C.

Giant centipede: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Giant centipede: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: up to ~5 years (sometimes more).

Giant centipede: Is it suitable for beginners?

No – better suited to experienced keepers (difficulty: Expert).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–29 °C

Night temperature

~20–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

75–85 % (humidity gradient)

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

30×30×30 cm, horizontal, escape-proof

Substrate

10–15 cm of damp coco humus plus sphagnum, bark and cork hides

Feeding

Food

Insects (crickets, roaches)

Feeding interval

1–2×/week

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 10–16 cm, individual animals up to about 20 cm

Life expectancy

up to ~5 years (sometimes more)

Origin

Australia (widespread, from desert to rainforest), plus New Guinea and parts of Southeast Asia; three subspecies and many colour forms

Protection status

No CITES; export from Australia is regulated (mostly captive-bred animals in the trade)

Brumation

None (for the tropical forms)

Cohabitation

Keep them strictly singly. Solitary and cannibalistic. The reason is not fighting but feeding: these animals take anything that fits in the mouth, and a second animal in the enclosure counts.

Notes

Venomous and defensive – no handling. A humid but well-ventilated and escape-proof enclosure; mist one side only (a humidity gradient).

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Blue-ring centipede (Ethmostigmus trigonopodus) – Intermediate
• Amazonian giant centipede (Scolopendra gigantea) – Intermediate to expert
• Chinese red-headed centipede (Scolopendra subspinipes) – Expert
• Chinese red-headed centipede (Scolopendra mutilans) – Expert
• Tanzanian blue ringleg centipede (Scolopendra morsitans) – Intermediate
• Indian tiger centipede (Scolopendra hardwickei) – Expert
• Caribbean giant centipede (Scolopendra alternans) – Expert
• Mediterranean banded centipede (Scolopendra cingulata) – Intermediate

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Giant centipede (Ethmostigmus rubripes) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (30×30×30 cm, horizontal, escape-proof), substrate (10–15 cm of damp coco humus plus sphagnum, bark and cork hides), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.