Yes, you can hold millipedes. They're one of the few invertebrates that genuinely tolerate handling, which is a big part of why people keep them. But there's a right way to do it, and a few things to be aware of so neither you nor the millipede has a bad time.
Can you hold millipedes?
Most of the commonly kept species are fine with it. Archispirostreptus gigas, the giant African millipede, is probably the best handling millipede out there. Once they settle, they'll walk calmly across your hands for ages. Smaller species like Epibolus pulchripes are also handleable, though they're a bit more active. Very small species like Trigoniulus corallinus are tricky to handle simply because they're tiny and quick, not because they're aggressive.
Millipedes don't bite. They have no venom. Their mouthparts are adapted for chewing soft, decaying plant matter, and they have no interest in your skin. The worst they can do is release defensive secretions, and even that is fairly mild for most species.
The right way to pick one up
Place your hand flat in front of the millipede and let it walk onto you. Don't grab it from above or pinch it around the middle. They're not delicate exactly, but squeezing will stress them, and a stressed millipede curls up and secretes. Which is the opposite of what you want.
Support the whole body. With a large millipede like A. gigas, that means using both hands and letting it bridge between them. Don't let the front end dangle unsupported. Their body weight is distributed along their length, and an unsupported section puts strain on them.
Let the millipede walk. They're explorers by nature and will trundle along from one hand to the other. Just keep moving your hands to create a continuous walking surface. It's oddly relaxing once you get the rhythm of it.
When not to handle them
There are a few times you should leave your millipede alone:
- During moulting. A moulting millipede will be buried in the substrate and shouldn't be disturbed at all. The new exoskeleton is soft and extremely vulnerable.
- For at least two weeks after a moult. The new exoskeleton needs time to harden fully. Handling too soon risks damaging it.
- When they've just arrived. Give a new millipede at least a week to settle into its enclosure before handling. The stress of transport is already enough.
- If they're curled up. A curled millipede is telling you it's stressed. Put it back and try another day.
Defensive secretions
This is the thing people ask about most. Millipedes produce chemical secretions from glands (ozopores) along their body segments as a defence mechanism. The specific chemicals vary by species. Many species in the order Spirostreptida produce benzoquinones, which have a slightly acrid, chemical smell. Some flat-backed millipedes in the order Polydesmida produce hydrogen cyanide, which smells faintly of bitter almonds.
In practice, most commonly kept pet species produce mild secretions. You might notice a faint smell or a slight brownish staining on your skin. It washes off. The main concern is your eyes and mouth: don't touch your face while handling a millipede, and wash your hands afterwards. If secretion gets in your eyes, flush them with water immediately.
Some people with sensitive skin notice mild irritation from the secretions. If that's you, it's not a reason to stop keeping millipedes. Just wash up promptly after handling.
Handling tips that actually help
Warm, dry hands are better than cold, damp ones. Millipedes seem to respond better when your hands are at a comfortable temperature. If your hands are freezing from being outside, warm them up first.
Be calm and slow. Quick movements spook them. If you're fidgety or jumpy, the millipede picks up on it. They respond to vibration and pressure changes, so a steady, relaxed hand makes a big difference.
Handle over a soft surface. Millipedes are not fragile, but a drop from hand height onto a hard floor can injure them. Sit on the sofa with a cushion on your lap, or handle over the enclosure itself.
Don't handle them for too long. Fifteen to twenty minutes is a reasonable session. They'll dry out faster outside their humid enclosure, and extended handling is more likely to stress them into secreting. Short, calm sessions are better than long ones.
Children and millipedes
Millipedes are actually quite good pets for supervised children. They're slow, they don't bite, and they're big enough to be handled without much risk of dropping. The key word is supervised. Children need to understand not to squeeze, not to touch their eyes afterwards, and not to chase a millipede that's curled up.
I'd suggest an adult handles the millipede out of the enclosure first, lets it settle, and then places it on the child's outstretched hands. That avoids any fumbling with the enclosure lid or trying to coax a buried millipede out of the substrate.
After handling
Wash your hands with soap and water. Every time. This removes any defensive secretions and also protects the millipede from anything on your hands. Lotions, hand sanitiser, and insect repellent residue can all be harmful to invertebrates. If you've recently applied any of those, handle the millipede another time.