A Glimpse
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Origin: West Africa (Benin, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon)
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Scientific Name: Pelmatojulus ligulatus
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Other Common Names: Amber Banded Millipede, Yellow-banded Millipede, Tiger Millipede
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Difficulty Level: Easy to moderate — a little experience helps
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Adult Size: Up to 14–16 cm
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Rarity: Medium
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Temperature: 24–28°C (75–82°F)
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Humidity: High — around 80–90%
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Ventilation: Moderate — enough to prevent mould, not so much that it dries out
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Diet: White rotten wood, decaying leaf litter, lichen. Vegetables and fruit are rarely accepted.
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Supplements: Cuttlebone, crushed eggshell, or limestone for calcium
Amber Millipede: Overview
The Amber Millipede is a chunky, glossy species from the secondary rainforests of West Africa. The alternating amber-orange and dark brown banding across the body gives them a really distinctive look, especially under decent lighting where you can appreciate how glossy they are. They're a solid medium-to-large millipede, reaching around 14–16 cm as adults with a good bit of width to them — noticeably bulkier than something like a Centrobolus species.
They're sometimes confused with the closely related Pelmatojulus excisus (Giant Fire Millipede), and to be fair the two do look quite similar. The ligulatus tends to have more of an amber/yellow tone to its banding rather than the redder colouring of the excisus, but they're from the same genus and have very similar care requirements.
The Important Bit: Diet
This is where Amber Millipedes differ from a lot of the more commonly kept species, and it's worth being upfront about it. These are dietary specialists. Their main food source is white rotten wood (the soft, crumbly, well-decayed hardwood you find on the forest floor) and decaying leaf litter. That's what they eat — a lot of it, and consistently.
Unlike some millipedes that will happily munch on cucumber, sweet potato, and banana alongside their substrate, P. ligulatus will largely ignore fresh vegetables and fruit. Some keepers report the odd nibble, but don't rely on it. You need to make sure you always have a good supply of well-rotted hardwood and leaf litter available. If you can keep that stocked up, they're not difficult to care for. If you can't, they'll struggle. It's as simple as that really.
Lichen is also appreciated and can be offered on bark or branches. A calcium source like cuttlebone or crushed eggshell should be available at all times.
Keeping Them
They do well in a plastic or glass enclosure with a minimum floor space of around 30 x 40 cm. Substrate depth is important — at least 10 cm of a moist mix of organic compost, coconut coir, and crumbled rotten wood. Top this with a generous layer of leaf litter.
Temperature should be kept between 24–28°C. In most UK homes you'll likely need a heat mat on a thermostat during cooler months to keep them within range, though in summer you may be fine without one. Humidity needs to be high, around 80–90%, so mist regularly and keep the substrate moist but not sodden.
These aren't big climbers, so you don't need to worry too much about height or climbing branches. They're much more interested in burrowing into and foraging through the substrate. That said, cork bark, coconut shells, or pieces of bark laid flat make good hides and are appreciated.
They can be kept in groups without issues, and are generally social and tolerant of each other provided there's enough space and food to go around.
Temperament and Handling
Amber Millipedes are docile and slow-moving, and can be handled. They're not skittish and will generally just plod along calmly. As with all millipedes, they can secrete a defensive liquid if stressed, so wash your hands after handling. They're not aggressive in any way — this is just a standard millipede defence mechanism.
Breeding
P. ligulatus can be bred in captivity, though they're slow to mature — reaching sexual maturity at around 2 years of age. Males can be identified by the presence of sole pads on the tarsi (feet). Eggs are deposited in the substrate, and the young should be left with the adults. They'll feed on the same decaying wood and leaf litter as the adults, so just make sure there's plenty available.
Being Realistic
These are a rewarding species to keep, but they're probably not the best pick if you're brand new to millipedes. The main reason is the dietary requirements — if you're used to keeping species that eat vegetables and fruit, the switch to sourcing and maintaining a supply of well-rotted wood and leaves takes a bit of planning. It's not hard, but it does require you to think ahead. If you've kept other millipedes before and you're comfortable with providing a substrate-heavy diet, you'll get on fine with these.
