Vietnamese giant centipede (Scolopendra dehaani)

Short answers

Vietnamese giant centipede: How big does the enclosure need to be?

40×30×30 cm (a single animal; ground-oriented, absolutely escape-proof).

Vietnamese giant centipede: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–28 °C, at night 20–22 °C.

Vietnamese giant centipede: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: No UVB needed.

Vietnamese giant centipede: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: females 6+ years, males approx. 3 years.

Vietnamese giant centipede: Is it suitable for beginners?

Rather not – it is considered an intermediate species (difficulty: Intermediate).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–28 °C

Night temperature

20–22 °C

Basking spot

—

Humidity

70–80 %

UVB

No UVB needed

Enclosure

Minimum size

40×30×30 cm (a single animal; ground-oriented, absolutely escape-proof)

Substrate

10–15 cm deep: coco humus, forest soil or a peat mix, slightly damp (not wet); room to dig plus a hide (a cork tube)

Feeding

Food

Live insects (house crickets, roaches, crickets), occasionally frozen food or a pinkie; match the food to the animal's size

Feeding interval

adults approx. 1×/week to every 10–14 days, juveniles more often; a break after shedding

Key facts

Adult size

approx. 20–25 cm body length

Life expectancy

females 6+ years, males approx. 3 years

Origin

South-East Asia (Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and others)

Protection status

No CITES or special protection; no registration duty. Caution: medically relevant venom – no handling with bare hands, only with long forceps; not an animal for beginners or children

Brumation

None (a tropical species)

Cohabitation

Keep strictly singly: strongly cannibalistic and aggressive; never house two animals together (exception: brief, controlled pairing by experienced keepers).

Notes

Very fast, aggressive, and able to jump and climb – make the terrarium extremely escape-proof (a tight lid or catch). Common mistakes: substrate that is too dry, handling, and housing them together. The venom can cause severe pain and swelling. Nocturnal, hiding by day.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• 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
• Giant desert centipede (Scolopendra heros) – Expert

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Vietnamese giant centipede (Scolopendra dehaani) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (40×30×30 cm (a single animal; ground-oriented, absolutely escape-proof)), substrate (10–15 cm deep: coco humus, forest soil or a peat mix, slightly damp (not wet); room to dig plus a hide (a cork tube)), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.