So, how do you use them in the terrarium? Do you mix them or you place them separate?
Creating the perfect habitat for millipedes is all about the substrate. Unlike many other terrarium pets, millipedes don’t just live on their substrate—they eat it. White rotten wood, flake soil, and decaying leaf litter are the absolute holy trinity of millipede husbandry and breeding.
Here is exactly how to use them to create a thriving, healthy enclosure.
1. Flake Soil: The Base Layer
Flake soil is fermented sawdust (usually oak or beech) that has been broken down by fungi and bacteria. It mimics the deep, nutrient-rich soil of a forest floor.
- How to use it: This forms the core of your substrate mix. Blend it with standard organic compost (coco coir is okay in small amounts, but has zero nutritional value, so flake soil or topsoil is much better).
- Depth: Ensure your substrate layer is deep. A good rule of thumb is that the substrate should be at least as deep as your longest millipede is long (usually 4 to 6 inches minimum) so they can burrow and molt safely.
2. White Rotten Wood: The Cellular Buffet
White rotten wood is wood that has been attacked by white-rot fungi, which break down the tough lignin, leaving behind soft, spongy cellulose that millipedes can easily digest.
- How to use it: Break the wood into a mix of different sizes.
- Crush some into chunks and mix it directly into the flake soil base. This provides long-term foraging as they burrow.
- Place larger pieces on the surface. These serve a dual purpose: they act as climbing structures/hiding spots, and the millipedes will slowly graze on them from underneath.
- Pro-Tip: If you harvest this from nature, make sure it is completely soft enough to crumble in your hands, and freeze or bake it first to eliminate unwanted hitchhikers (like centipedes or spiders).
3. Decaying Leaf Litter: The Multi-Purpose Topper
Leaf litter (ideally hardwood leaves like oak, beech, or maple) is essential for moisture retention, shelter, and daily snacking.
- How to use it: Use it in two ways:
- The Mix: Shred a handful of leaves and mix them throughout the flake soil to create texture and pockets of food underground.
- The Top Layer: Pack a thick layer (1 to 2 inches) across the entire surface of the enclosure.
- Why it matters: The surface leaves keep the humidity locked into the soil below and give your millipedes a sense of security. They will mostly hang out under this layer during the day.
⚠️ Important Reminder: As your millipedes eat their way through the enclosure, the substrate level will drop and turn into fine, pellet-like frass (poop). Every few months, you will need to gently scoop out the top layer of frass and pack in fresh flake soil, wood, and leaves!
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