{"product_id":"polydesmus-sp-tiny-millipede","title":"Polydesmus sp Tiny Millipede","description":"\u003ch2\u003eA Glimpse\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flat-backed millipede\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScientific Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e sp. (most likely \u003cem\u003eP. angustus\u003c\/em\u003e, though several very similar UK species exist that can only be reliably separated under a microscope)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Polydesmidae\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e UK native — found throughout Britain in woodland, gardens, compost heaps, and leaf litter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 15–25 mm long, approximately 4 mm wide\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2–3 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/strong\u003e Easy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Room temperature — no additional heating required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHumidity:\u003c\/strong\u003e 70–85% — keep the substrate consistently damp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDiet:\u003c\/strong\u003e Decaying leaf litter, rotting wood, dead plant matter, soft fruit and vegetables\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplements:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cuttlebone or crushed limestone for calcium; occasional fish flakes for protein\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Are These?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are flat-backed millipedes — small, native UK species from the genus \u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e. If you've ever turned over a log or dug through a compost heap and seen a small, flat, brownish millipede with what looks like ridged armour plating, you've probably already met one of these.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey're not flashy. They're not tropical. They don't grow to any impressive size. What they are is a genuinely interesting little millipede that's easy to keep, does well at room temperature without any special heating, and makes a surprisingly good micro-pet or bioactive addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body shape is the most distinctive thing about them — unlike the cylindrical body you'd see on most millipedes, \u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e have a noticeably flattened profile with each body segment extending sideways into a ridge. This gives them a very different look to something like an African Giant or a Thai Rainbow, and it's an adaptation for squeezing through leaf litter and soil. They have around 20 body segments and longer antennae and legs relative to their body size than most other millipedes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColouration is typically orangey-brown to dark brown, sometimes with paler legs. It's understated — these are millipedes that are built for camouflage on the forest floor, not for standing out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Keep Them?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese appeal to a slightly different keeper than the big tropical species. If you're interested in native UK invertebrates, if you want a small millipede colony that doesn't need a heat mat or careful temperature management, or if you want a bioactive clean-up crew for a temperate terrarium, \u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e fit the brief.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey're also good for anyone who finds the idea of millipedes interesting but doesn't want to commit to the substrate requirements and temperature management that tropical species demand. These are about as low-maintenance as millipedes get — which makes sense, because they've evolved to live outdoors in the British climate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor bioactive setups housing UK native reptiles or amphibians (slow worms, common lizards, newts), native millipedes like \u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e are arguably a more appropriate clean-up crew choice than tropical species, since they're already adapted to the same temperature and humidity range as your main inhabitants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eEnclosure and Substrate\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA small plastic container or faunarium is fine — these are tiny millipedes and don't need much space. A container around 20x15cm with a secure lid will comfortably house a small group.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor substrate, use a mix of organic topsoil (pesticide-free) with plenty of crumbled decaying leaf litter and soft rotting wood mixed in. The substrate is their primary food source, so it matters. Oak leaves work well, as do beech. The wood should be well-rotted — soft enough to crumble in your fingers. Add a layer of whole leaves on top for cover and additional food.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep the substrate consistently damp but not waterlogged. Mist as needed. These millipedes come from damp woodland environments — they'll dehydrate if things dry out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGood ventilation is still important even in a damp enclosure. A few holes in the lid or a small mesh vent will do — you don't need the same level of cross-ventilation as tropical species, but stagnant air encourages mould.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo heating is required. These are native UK millipedes and are comfortable at normal room temperature. They'll tolerate a wide range — they survive British winters outdoors, after all. If anything, they prefer it on the cooler side compared to tropical species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDiet\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e are detritivores — their main food is decaying plant matter, and in captivity the substrate itself (leaf litter and rotting wood) provides the bulk of their diet. Keep the enclosure well stocked with leaves and they'll mostly feed themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou can supplement with small pieces of soft fruit and vegetables. They reportedly enjoy strawberries, cucumber, and similar soft foods. Remove uneaten fresh food after a day to prevent mould.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffer a calcium source — a small piece of cuttlebone or some crushed limestone in the enclosure. A few fish flakes or a small piece of fish food every week or two provides extra protein, though they're less demanding on the protein front than many isopod species.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDefence Mechanism — Worth Knowing\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike other flat-backed millipedes, \u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e can secrete defensive chemicals from glands along their body when they feel threatened. These secretions contain hydrogen cyanide compounds — which sounds alarming, but at this scale it amounts to a faintly almond-smelling fluid. It's not dangerous to humans in the quantities a 2cm millipede can produce, but it's worth being aware of. Wash your hands after handling, don't touch your eyes, and keep them away from small children and other pets as a sensible precaution. This is standard advice for all millipedes — even the big tropical species produce similar defensive secretions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e mate in late spring and early summer in the wild. Females lay small clusters of eggs in the soil or leaf litter. The young hatch with only a few pairs of legs and add more with each moult as they grow. Growth is slow — it takes multiple moults over a long period before they reach full adult size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn captivity, if conditions are right (damp substrate, plenty of food, undisturbed), breeding should happen without any special intervention. Keep the enclosure moist and well-stocked with leaf litter and leave them to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA Note on Identification\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe product is listed as \u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e sp. rather than a specific species, and that's actually fair — there are several \u003cem\u003ePolydesmus\u003c\/em\u003e species native to the UK (\u003cem\u003eP. angustus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eP. coriaceus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eP. denticulatus\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eP. inconstans\u003c\/em\u003e) that look extremely similar to the naked eye. Reliably telling them apart requires examining the gonopods of adult males under magnification. For keeping purposes, it doesn't matter — care is identical across the genus.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PostPods","offers":[{"title":"1","offer_id":56998593528190,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"5","offer_id":56998593560958,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"10","offer_id":56998593593726,"sku":null,"price":85.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0759\/0707\/2294\/files\/polydesmus-sp-tiny-millipede-8047136.jpg?v=1772472087","url":"https:\/\/postpods.co.uk\/products\/polydesmus-sp-tiny-millipede","provider":"Isopods For Sale UK | PostPods","version":"1.0","type":"link"}