Safe to eat?

[pclare]

Does anyone know for sure if this millipede is safe for boxies to eat? They're all over my yard. My skunk ate one and seemed to find it tasty.

I tried Googling it, but find too many conflicting IDs. I don't want to offer it if it has a toxin or of it can bite.

 

[Rue]

Centipede. I wouldn't feed them deliberately. ..but I wouldn't worry if they ate one incidentally. Odds are they won't eat them. ..but who knows for certain?

One centipede that size likely doesn't have enough toxin to hurt a tortoise if worst came to worst...unless it is a lot bigger than I think it is...

 

[cmacusa3]

Box turtles eat all kinds of stuff in the wild. I'm sure if it ate one and it made it sick they are not going to eat another one. I see mine catching bugs in their enclosures all the time.

 

[pclare]

Centipede -- thanks -- I didn't count.

It's nearly the size of my little finger. For someone who's into bugs, it would make a great specimen, actually, because it's hefty and really beautiful.

I never saw these until I moved into the house I'm in now, and I can hardly dig a scoop of earth or move a pot, a few leaves, or some bark without finding two or three.

Thanks for your input. I never worried when my guys grabbed smaller centipedes in their outdoor pens, but I just worried because these are so big.

 

[cmacusa3]

Oh wow those are big. What part of the US are you in? I don't believe I've seen any that size.

 

[pclare]

Oh wow those are big. What part of the US are you in? I don't believe I've seen any that size.

Northern NJ. They're really pretty when they curl up - all red and yellow.

 

[Rue]

They are quite big then. I think they are neat..

The ones around here are all quite small.

 

[Berkeley]

Centipede. I wouldn't feed them deliberately. ..but I wouldn't worry if they ate one incidentally. Odds are they won't eat them. ..but who knows for certain?

One centipede that size likely doesn't have enough toxin to hurt a tortoise if worst came to worst...unless it is a lot bigger than I think it is...

Nope, it's a millipede. There are two pairs of legs per body segment. Centipedes only have only pair of legs per segment.

The millipedes have noxious-tasting goo in them that they release when disturbed, but I would guess that they are probably fine for the boxes. As Abrams said, if they eat it and don't like it they won't eat another. I don't worry about millipedes in my box enclosures.

--Berkeley

 

[Gillian M]

I think @Rue is right.

And welcome to the forum!

 

[Rue]

I can't see two pairs of legs per segment, I only see one. You must have much better eyes.

However, Berkeley is correct. If there are two pairs of legs per segment it is a millipede. If there is one set, it is a centipede. You will now have to go catch another one and count!

Either way, I still wouldn't worry about it.

 

[AJK Aquaria]

Can't answer your question but bright colors can indicate a bad taste/foul odor/poison in some invertebrates.

 

[pclare]

I can't see two pairs of legs per segment, I only see one. You must have much better eyes.

However, Berkeley is correct. If there are two pairs of legs per segment it is a millipede. If there is one set, it is a centipede. You will now have to go catch another one and count!

Either way, I still wouldn't worry about it.

Yep. I'm in the Poconos right now, but when I get home I'll try to post a clearer pic. It's hard to do because they won't stop moving. Maybe if I make it curl up that'll help.

 

[pclare]

Can't answer your question but bright colors can indicate a bad taste/foul odor/poison in some invertebrates.

I thought the same thing regarding the bright coloring.