ENVIRONMENT
Core care conditions
Use these ranges as a starting point and adjust for life stage, enclosure ventilation and observed behaviour.
HUSBANDRY OVERVIEW
At a glance
- Origin
- Southeast Asia; now widely introduced in tropical regions
- Lifestyle
- Terrestrial detritivore
- Adult size
- 2–4 cm
- Temperament
- Calm but delicate; display-only
- Experience level
- Intermediate
- Visibility
- Often active on leaf litter and decaying wood in humid conditions
- Burrowing
- May shelter beneath leaves, bark and the upper substrate layer
- Growth rate
- Moderate
CARE NOTES
Keeping considerations
Keep in a warm, very humid, well-ventilated enclosure with a deep, biologically active substrate rich in decayed hardwood and leaf litter. The substrate is both habitat and food, so replenish decomposed leaves and rotten wood rather than relying on fresh vegetables alone. Avoid waterlogging and provide a moisture gradient. Do not handle: dragon millipedes use warning colouration and can produce cyanogenic defensive secretions when disturbed. Wash hands after enclosure maintenance and keep away from the face, children and pets. The supplied trade photo is recorded here as Desmoxytes planata. Desmoxytes purpurosea is a separate Thai species, not a synonym, and a specimen-level identification would require suitable diagnostic examination. Photo and keeper-care submission supplied by Exotic Spiderlings.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the references
Care can vary by species, life stage and local conditions. Review multiple reputable sources before making husbandry decisions.