Handling & Defensive Secretions

General temperament

Most commonly kept species, including Archispirostreptus gigas, Epibolus pulchripes, and Trigoniulus corallinus, are docile and handle well. They don't bite in any meaningful way. Their mandibles are built for chewing decaying plant matter, not for defence, so there's no bite risk to worry about.

Their defence is chemical, not aggressive. When disturbed, they'll usually just curl into a tight spiral.

How to handle

Let the millipede walk onto your hand rather than grabbing it. Put your hand flat in front of it and gently encourage it forward. Support its whole body and don't let legs dangle unsupported over an edge. Falls can hurt them.

• Handle over a soft surface (a bed, a cushion, or close to the ground) in case they fall
• They have a surprisingly strong grip but move slowly. Let them explore at their own pace
• No sudden movements or loud noises
• Keep sessions short so you don't stress them out

Defensive secretions

When stressed, many species secrete chemicals from glands called ozopores, which run along the sides of their body segments. What they secrete varies quite a bit by species:

• Spirostreptida (including A. gigas) secrete benzoquinones. These stain skin brown and can irritate mucous membranes. The staining is harmless but annoyingly persistent
• Polydesmida (flat-backed millipedes) can produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which you'll recognise by a bitter almond smell. This is genuinely toxic in concentration, though the amount from one millipede won't harm an adult in a ventilated space
• Most hobby species produce mild secretions that stain skin and smell bad but won't cause any lasting harm in normal handling amounts

Precautions

Follow these every single time you handle any millipede:

• Wash your hands with soap and water after handling. Every time
• Don't touch your eyes, mouth, or nose until you've washed up
• If secretion gets in your eyes, flush immediately with clean water for several minutes. See a doctor if irritation doesn't clear up
• If you notice a strong bitter almond smell, put the millipede back and ventilate the room

When NOT to handle

Leave your millipede alone in these situations:

• During or shortly after moulting. The new exoskeleton is soft and very easy to damage. A moulting millipede will look pale or whitish
• When burrowed deep in substrate. It's resting or moulting. Digging it out causes real stress
• When curling tightly and secreting. That's a clear "leave me alone" signal. Put it back
• When it's new to its enclosure. Give it a few days to settle before you try handling

Children and millipedes

Millipedes can be great for kids to watch and, with supervision, to handle. Just make sure an adult is present:

• Make sure they wash their hands after every handling session
• Watch that they don't touch their face while handling
• Teach them to be gentle and calm. No squeezing, no sudden movements
• Keep it short, especially with younger kids

The secretions aren't dangerous in normal handling amounts, but they'll cause real discomfort if rubbed into eyes or sensitive skin. Good hand-washing habits are all it takes to avoid problems.