How Much Does a Giant Millipede Really Cost? (And a Supply Note Worth Knowing)

Giant African millipedes are inexpensive to keep month to month, though the animal itself costs more than you might expect for an invertebrate, and there's a real reason behind that.

Why the Price Runs Higher Than Other Invertebrates

There is no import ban, but a USDA PPQ 526 plant pest permit is required to bring a giant African millipede into the US or move one across state lines, and imports have dried up, largely over the mites that live on wild animals, with the state-by-state picture in the giant millipede legal guide. Practically, this means the giant millipedes available in the US today are captive-bred, and the species has never bred well in captivity. That keeps supply genuinely limited and prices higher than you'd expect for an animal this low-maintenance to care for. Some states also have their own additional sales restrictions or permit requirements, so the state question comes before the purchase.

The Millipede Itself: $75 to $150 or More

Compared to most pet invertebrates, this is a real step up in purchase price, driven entirely by the supply situation above. Nothing about the care is harder.

Where to Buy One

In the US that means a captive-bred animal from an invertebrate breeder or specialty dealer, because imports have all but dried up. A seller who can say the animal was bred in the US, and roughly when it hatched, is selling the thing the price is paying for.

Two checks before paying:

• What species it is. Record-keeping in the trade is poor, so the label is not always accurate. Long-held zoo animals displayed as giant African millipedes have turned out to be Spiropoeus fischeri, a West and Central African species, so ask what the seller knows about where the line came from.
• The shell. Look over every segment for cracks. A cracked exoskeleton can leak hemolymph and let infection in, which makes it a life-threatening injury rather than a cosmetic one.

Buy one animal if you want no babies. Anyone hoping to breed buys a small group instead of a pair, because juveniles cannot be sexed and a "pair" of young animals is a guess. Every new arrival lives in its own tub until it has fed, drunk and settled before joining an established group, the same invertebrate quarantine used for tarantulas and scorpions.

Upfront Setup: $120 to $245

Ongoing Costs: Minimal

Fresh produce and periodic substrate or leaf litter replenishment make up nearly the entire monthly cost, just a few dollars. The deep organic substrate is both the biggest line here and the animal's food, which is why topping it up is not optional the way a decoration would be. A breeding group costs more in substrate than a single animal, since deeper substrate means more food for a growing colony.

Vet Costs

Essentially none. Invertebrate-experienced exotic vets exist but are rarely needed, and most issues are managed through husbandry alone. A millipede that does go to a vet travels in a ventilated container with several inches of its own substrate, kept warm and out of direct sun.

Lifespan: Exceptionally Long for an Invertebrate

5 to 7 years is typical in captivity, and some individuals live upwards of 10. This is remarkable longevity for an invertebrate, considerably longer than the praying mantis, jumping spider, or hissing cockroach, and worth factoring into your decision as a real, multi-year commitment.

The four-species overview sets it beside a Jackson's chameleon, a canary and a corydoras catfish as the one animal of the four that cannot bite or sting at all.

Sources & Further Reading