Bumblebee Millipedes: The Best Pet Invertebrates?

Bumblebee Millipedes are one of the best pet invertebrates. They are colorful, hardy,and easy to keep. They are also inexpensive. I have kept bumblebee millipedes for several years, and can recommend them as a great pet millipede.
As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
LINKS to millipede supplies:
These 6-quart Sterilite tubs make great millipede enclosures: amzn.to/2SfhMCz
I feed my millipedes Repashy Bug Burger weekly, they love it:
6-oz jar of bug burger: amzn.to/2PhSVKg
12-oz. jar of bug burger: amzn.to/2Mg3Nal
To give your millipedes calcium you can use cuttlebone: twin pack: amzn.to/2S9H3hG
MILLIPEDE SUBSTRATE INGREDIENTS:
1 part Organic Compost: amzn.to/2Wn4VO1 (You can probably find it much cheaper at your local garden supply or hardware store)
1 part Alder Pellets: amzn.to/2MBYj9O
1 part pesticide-free hardwood leaves, you may collect them locally or purchased pre-sanitized: amzn.to/2We6GNm
For FREE 2-Day shipping on qualifying orders, try Amazon Prime: amzn.to/2N2HuFb
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. In other words, I earn a small commission when you use that affiliate link, at no cost to you.
Make your own bug jelly/beetle jelly! Here is blog where I found the original the bug/beetle jelly recipe:
beetlesaspets.b...
Here is my version of the DIY bug jelly/beetle jelly recipe, along with links to purchase most of the ingredients, most of which you can probably find locally:
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon agar agar powder: amzn.to/2FSFJJe
1 ripe banana
1 cup of water, divided
8.5 teaspoons dark brown sugar: amzn.to/2TfAvLm
one teaspoon of honey: amzn.to/2CFnV11
(optional) 1/2 teaspoon crested gecko diet: amzn.to/2MjFGrb
In a blender, add 1/2 cup water, the peeled banana, the brown sugar, the honey, and the optional crested gecko diet. Blend until the banana is liquified.
In a saucepan, heat the other 1/2 cup of water to boiling. Stir in the agar powder, and stir for 1-2 minutes to ensure the agar powder is completely dissolved. Next, stir the other liquified ingredients into the boiling water. Bring this mixture to a boil, and boil again for 1-2 minutes. Pour the mixture into a shallow container (such as a glass baking dish) to cool. While the mixture cools, do not move, shake, or disturb it in any way. Once the mixture has cooled, it can be cut up and/or spooned out into a jar or other container for storage in a refrigerator. It will generally keep for several months if refrigerated.
I use these 0.5 ounce deli cups to feed this bug jelly to my bugs: amzn.to/2T8LCFU
For FREE 2-Day shipping on qualifying orders, try Amazon Prime: amzn.to/2N2HuFb

[@vanessajules-baptiste8797]

I just got 2 bumblebee millipedes! Here in Florida they are so common. They are really cool and docile animals. I did so much research before I got them lol. My substrate has compost soil mix and for the wood mix I put a mix of cherry wood and maple wood. I use crushed up eggshells as calcium and they love bananas! (I also put dried leaf litter) They look so healthy and I am so happy. Thanks to your channel, I started loving millipedes! Tysm!!!

[@vDuzz]

Millipedes are definitely my favorite pet invertebrates. If I ever decide to get another species I'll definitely consider bumblebee millipedes. Their lime green coloration is very pretty.

[@Aquarimax]

Nesogaster These are a fun species for sure! 👍🏽

[@kakakrabbypatty1234]

Yeah these things and scarlet millipedes are everywhere in south Florida

[@Aquarimax]

Kaka krabby patty Yep! That is where I first encountered both species...in Miami Beach. 👍🏽

[@themysteriousmoomoo3116]

I find them in the Tampa area

[@jessicam.3925]

The best guide on the internet

[@MiBackpacking]

Thank you Russ! I have a group of bumblebee millipedes arriving today and have their enclosure all ready to go!

[@Aquarimax]

Awesome! Enjoy them!!

[@officialzonea]

Beautiful! Is it okay if we use a short section of this clip in our upcoming video? You will be credited accordingly. Thanks!

[@Aquarimax]

Absolutely! With the proper credit I am delighted to have you use it. 👍🏼

[@officialzonea]

@@Aquarimax Thank you!

[@lokitheferret9815]

I just ordered bumblebee millipedes to get over my fear of them

[@Aquarimax]

A good species for that! Not too big, lovely colors, and easy.

[@megaball-ps8tq]

Thanks for the information! I'm actually planning on getting one as a pet sometime in the future.

[@orca_king_roblox]

i almost want one even know i’m terrified of them they seem like a good pet and they aren’t giant

[@jacobtringali6582]

Just got a bumblebee and 2 scarlet, I work at a reptile store so I will always be getting babies from our breeders in our enclosures

[@FusionDeveloper]

I just found a place with a good amount of them, so I'm trying to raise them now. I didn't take all I saw, I just took enough to have some hopefully survive long enough to reproduce. Bumblee bee millipedes are my favorite color pattern.

[@Crystalspets]

This is great information rus I enjoy my bumblebees millerpede thats is so cool that they are from Jamaica

[@Aquarimax]

Crystal's pets&plants Thanks Crystal!

[@tarantulacollective]

Very helpful video!

[@loisking3536]

These are beautiful. Thank you for showing us how to care for them. I love your videos.

[@Aquarimax]

Lois King You’re welcome, and thank you!

[@lloydedmonds8775]

Thanks for the well informed information!

[@FusionDeveloper]

I just wish they grew bigger.

[@happyfeet6144]

helpful, accurate, simple. all-around nice youtube video.

[@antwit9343]

Can you do ants next? They are really interesting and diverse, and the ant-keeping hobby is quickly growing in popularity! Anyways, great video! Keep it up 👍

[@Aquarimax]

Antwit I will definitely work on getting an ant expert for a guest interview 👍

[@antwit9343]

Aquarimax Pets Awesome! The only expert I know is Miles from the Ant Network. Check him out, he’s a myrmecologist (study of ants)!

[@crittergirl3647]

Already were on my wishlist!

[@Aquarimax]

CritterGirl I’m sure you will enjoy them 👍

[@SupremeGecko]

Great videio. You really covered so much information. Thanks. My vote for millipedes goes to ivories but BBs are a close second

[@xsogon8473]

hi :)

[@allgoodthings532]

i’ve been planning on getting a bumblebee millipede, thank you so much for this video!

[@Aquarimax]

All good Things You’re welcome! 👍🏽

[@barbhelle5481]

They are very pretty. Thank you Russ.

[@Aquarimax]

Barb Helle Thanks for watching, Barb!

[@dalcon555]

Have you done a complete tour of your enclosures and critters? Because you're living the dream and I need something to compare my shallow life to

[@Aquarimax]

David Buck I did a 15,000 sub tour a while back...time for another!

[@mikeycityify]

Like always, excellent segment!

[@Aquarimax]

Komodo M Much appreciated l!!

[@zer0coolninja887]

Great videos like always!!!!

[@Aquarimax]

Zer0cool NINJA88 Thank you!!

[@PlecsExotics3]

Amazing and beautiful Millipedes! We have Scarlets and I heard you can crossbreed them with Scarlets? Sadly I can't find any bumblebees I can find for sale where I live, but I find Zebra Millipedes for sale here. Might get some soon? In the wild, I have only found Chondromorpha xanthotricha, and Scarlet millipedes.

[@Aquarimax]

I don’t think scarlets can crossbreed with bumblebees…I used to keep them together and saw no evidence of hybrids. Do you know what species the zebras in your area are?

[@PlecsExotics3]

​@@Aquarimax I think the Zebras might be Doratogonus flavifilis or some other Harpagophoridae.

[@averageyoutubeuser90]

This is the earliest I’ve ever been!!

[@Aquarimax]

Wyatt’s Wildlife awesome!

[@sirblue5586]

Can you house a single bumblebee millipede with isopods? I have 3 Isopod Terrariums. One is a community Vivarium, four Bess Beetles, Armadillium Macalatum, Armadillium vulgare, springtails, two rainbow dung beetles, bolboba scarab beetles, small ground beetles, it's a 16 quart tub. With latches and built in ventilation in the lid with transparent windows. I do have a really deep tub that is unused I could make it a Vivarium if I needed too. My other two Isopod Vivariums one is a 6.5 tub with springtails, bolboba scarabs two individuals, Armadillium Macalatum, vulgare, and a wild slater that is blueish gray in coloration. The other Isopod Terrarium is a big display pioneer case turned upside down, it's the biggest to scale case they make. It has bolboba beetles, Armadillium vulgare, Macalatum, and mysterious mites that I tagged you with for help on identification. It has many baby Isopods because I was going to transfer all my Isopods from it because the mites are mysterious and getting really high in numbers and isopods seem uncomfortable. I ordered Armadillium perraccae (20) and one bumblebee millipede from the bug hub. They are on the way. Also I use the same substrate for my plants and Isopods. It's a tub filled with, coconut fiber, orchid bark chips, calcium powder, worm castings, perlite, vermiculite, sand, almond tea tree leaves, cinnamon powder for mold, and I occasionally spray peppermint spray onto it as well. It also has uhh salt, limestone pellets, wood chips, cork bark powder, repri soil that either you or another KZbinr that makes Terrarium you are aquanted with recommended. My room currently is 69.5 as I was typing this, it's now 70.6 F . I live in Texas btw. It was 78°F highest today. I'm ordering this week because it's literally the only week where temps haven't been above 80°F consistently.

[@Aquarimax]

It can be done, and some people do it successfully, but if there are molting issues with that millipede, e isopods will take advantage of it.

[@spyrit35]

I see these often, I never knew that they were recognised as a Jamaican species.

[@Aquarimax]

Sean Tomlinson are you in Florida?

[@spyrit35]

@@Aquarimax actually I'm in Jamaica... nobody has any idea that people keep them as pets here.. your culture and habitat videos are what made you a great sub for me, keep up the good content.

[@Aquarimax]

Sean Tomlinson Interesting! I am glad to hear that you enjoy the channel, I’ll try to keep interesting videos coming!

[@spyrit35]

@@Aquarimax No problem... I found it interesting as well... it makes me wonder what other kind of (forgive me, I don't know the proper word... insects) that we have here are kept as pets... we have centipedes that are brown with some orange and green hints that grow up to 8 inches and are blazing fast while articulating like a snake... people don't like them much, 'give a nasty sting.

[@antsscotland4612]

There cool those ! Love watching the content, thanks rus, peace out from scotland ,

[@Aquarimax]

ANTS SCOTLAND Thank you, I really appreciate your support!

[@antsscotland4612]

@@Aquarimax I'm also gary mcintyre ,I was on wrong you tube acc lol , hi rus

[@Aquarimax]

ANTS SCOTLAND Hi Gary!! 🤣

[@bibytom863]

I've collected some millipides and they come randomly with matereals that I bring from the park area (hardly decayed leaves, different pieces of wood). I do not sterilise anything. With the materials comes springtails, worms, different types of mites, polydesmia, snails and slugs and they live totally fine into the enclosure with my cockroaches (tropical ones), I hope they multiply, but I found it hard to observe because of all messy over there. Room temperature is about 68-70°F(20-21°C), however in natural this species resist winters with temperatures -10°F(-20°C and lower). Summer, outside temperature is rare over 80°C. I have count about 35 wild different species in my tank, however some of them died. 1 species of sprintail was gone very soon (probably because scolopendra may be 1/3 inch) 1 species of springtail seems to be dissapeared after about 8 month (probably because of the compete with the main species of springtail that breed super fast) 1 species of carnivorous mites died pretty soon (I had about 5 individuals)

[@RealBradMiller]

Isn't it so cute when you see a little snail come along to much on some veg? I don't mind them at all.

[@World_of_Cacti]

Very pretty spiecies!

[@Aquarimax]

World of Cacti thank you!!

[@survivorchallenges]

What's up, tempest?

[@ziyaaddhorat]

Vaush fanboy?

[@sirenamares1390]

I remember these from when I lived in PR. I would love watching them roll up as a child. Can one keep millipedes with isopods and springtails?

[@spencerrawlins7495]

How big of a colony could successfully be housed in that 6 qt sterilite tub? I'm trying to start a few colonies and am wondering how many of those I should buy.

[@Aquarimax]

You could probably house 100 in a 6 quart with good substrate maintenance. I have had up to 75 or so in a 6 quart tub, including juveniles and tiny babies.

[@finchmiller8892]

very informative thank you !

[@MrEFynn]

Yes!!!

[@Mustafa-099]

Hey Rus , amazing vid as always, can you make an endler and shell dwellers update next ?

[@Aquarimax]

Ansari Mustafa I’ll try to do a fishy update soon 👍

[@Mustafa-099]

@@Aquarimax that's so amazingly good to hear , you are the best Rus !!!

[@TheropodHunter]

My word. I'd have to make sure I don't mistake the hatchlings for nematodes.

[@Aquarimax]

Theropod Hunter very tiny!!

[@float32]

Great video! What about mold? Every time we have any amount of moisture in any of our enclosures, even our snakes humidity box, we end up with mold. Even the moss molds.

[@kittenthecat_]

I’ve heard springtails help with mold! You could try add some to your enclosures

[@alexischavez3238]

You can place the heating pad on the outside underneath your enclosure and even place a thin or thick cloth between the tank and the pad and it should help out to warm but not kill the milipedes

[@Ellipsis115]

I'll call mine tempest.

[@MrEFynn]

I don't mind the size of millipedes dose are very pretty millipedes!

[@Aquarimax]

Mr. E. Fynn i agree!

[@Consenting]

ty sm!!

[@Aquarimax]

Consenting thank you!

[@awesomeanimalswithalishav5874]

Just got 40 bumblebee and scarlet millipedes and am already loving them. They're so little and cute. Have you used them as a cleanup crew? I think BioDude talks about using them and I saw mention of people using them in crested gecko tanks, but it seems chancy since they might kill the gecko if it tries to eat them. I was thinking of using them in my garter snake enclosure, but again, garter snakes eat millipedes and I don't know if the snake could handle it if she did eat one. Anoles live with them, so that might work or something like a ball python that won't eat them at all.

[@Aquarimax]

I like them a lot, though I have never used them for a cleanup crew for the reasons you cited. It s quite possible that they would work with some species that would be unlikely to eat them, just like you said.

[@volking6338]

Hello. I have a few questions. if you could answer that would be great! I'm looking to get a spirostreptus species 1. 1. Where can I find a good small sized terrarium 2. What is a good sized terrarium 3. If I purchase a millipede from the Uk to the US will it most likely survive? 4. Are springtime helpful with millipedes? If so where can I get some

[@Aquarimax]

The Formal Top-hat I would suggest a 6-16 quart Sterilite tub, they are available at most department stores or home improvement stores. I would suggest getting them here in the USA, they are available and it is safer and easier. Springtails are extremely helpful. I suggest them strongly. www.bugsincyberspace.com or any dart frog supply store should have springtails.

[@georgemargaritis2392]

I just order 5 of those beautiful millis Can I keep them with my Subulina octona snails?

[@Aquarimax]

I am not familiar with that species of snail…so I am unsure how they would do together.

[@georgemargaritis2392]

@@Aquarimax I wanna create a mini forest kind off so I am trying to see what species can cohabitate peacefully

[@JXZ-JAM]

That old substrate is also black gold. please send it to me for my plants.

[@paulj.l.9696]

Is 70-71 degrees acceptable? That's what i keep my finch room at, I'm not sure my wife would be okay bumping up the temp a couple of degrees for some millipedes!

[@Aquarimax]

They can survive at temps lower than 72, but they do seem to do better at warmer temps.

[@JuanGonzález-m6i]

Can these millipedes be housed with dart frogs

[@Aquarimax]

I wouldn’t, as the frogs might eat the newly hatched millipedes, and/or be harmed by the toxins of the older millipedes.

[@corydora2894]

would 68 be too cold? is there a better species for lower temperatures.

[@Aquarimax]

I wouldn’t suggest keeping these at temps below 72 for extended periods of time. Some of the Narceus species would probably do fine around 68 F.

[@monsterkajiu1912]

Can you do a orthoporus ornatus video?!

[@alexcontreras6103]

would it be bad if i start a small population in my backyard I heard their poop is great fertilizer. Was wondering if you happen to breed Smokey ghost or pink foot milipedes mine seem to live a long time but idk if the babies inside the enclosures are theirs or scarlets

[@Aquarimax]

Alex Contreras I wouldn’t advise releasing them outside, but once you freeze used substrate for 72 hours, it will make good fertilizer. I have bred the cherry foots before.

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

cool

[@Aydan.K]

question:Do i need heating i live in the caribbean and i can just take a baby millipede from my yard they are cute and they live everywhere.

[@Aquarimax]

You probably do not need extra heating unless you keep your house very cold with air conditioning.

[@Aydan.K]

@@Aquarimax thanks

[@__.bug.__8819]

Can they be kept alone? Or with just 2 of them? I want bumblebee millipedes but i dont want to breed them

[@Aquarimax]

You could keep just males together, or just keep one immature bd let it grow up without a mate

[@MT94SMM]

Will they be fine in a 2.5 gallon?

[@Aquarimax]

For a while, they will be fine, unless you are starting with large numbers. As the population grows, you will need to upgrade and/or split the population into other containers.

[@JHuntPhotography0]

How are the garters doing? Did the terrarium grow in?

[@Aquarimax]

Negative Grain Thanks for asking! garters are much bigger, the female is likely pregnant, and the plants are all spreading, especially all the ferns!

[@carltong8973]

Just a random question, how fast do springtails breed, and do you need to feed them anything specific if they are put together with my magic potion isopods or do I just feed the isopods and the springtails can survive?

[@Aquarimax]

carl tong springtails are pretty fast breeders. Usually within a month to six weeks of addiibg them, you will see many, many babies. If you put them in with your magic potion isopods, you will likely find that they will do extremely well if you take good care of the isopods and ignore the springtails. 👍🏽

[@carltong8973]

@@Aquarimax Thanks man!

[@Aydan.K]

and can I just throw old substrate in theyard by the garden i have tons of of millipedes living there

[@pricelizzzong8121]

Trying to find a gigas, they are so hard to find

[@rhubiperez2946]

Would you recommend having dwarf purple or any other kind of dwarf isopod in the same enclosure has the millipedes?

[@Aquarimax]

Personally I would go with springtails with millipedes, rather than any type of isopod.

[@arcaninetyfour2239]

Since the enclosure and food requirements are much the same, can you cohabit any millipedes with isopods?

[@RealBradMiller]

That's a tough question, I have heard that the isopods may mess with the millipedes during molting. I think providing plenty of protein and calcium may fix that issue, and haven't had any problems in my community tank which includes multiple isopod species, scarlet millipedes, earthworms(two, but I think they had babies!), and springtails. They have been getting along fine for a year now.

[@captainrex1742]

I didn’t know clints reptiles changed his channel name and got fired, replaced at the same time

[@Aquarimax]

Bowsersomedoggo Minecraft nope...just best SEO practices!

[@mramos7887]

Poor things turn up dead on my apartment pretty often :(

[@Otherpaw_for_ever]

Im getting 3

[@allgoodthings532]

when housing multiple species together (obviously without wanting any breeding), would you say keeping bumblebees is okay to keep with fire or ivory millipedes?

[@Aquarimax]

Millipedes of various species can get along ...the difficulty would be to stop them from breeding. One female bumblebee might well be fertilized by a male bumblebee the time you put her in with other species.

[@allgoodthings532]

Aquarimax Pets what if you only keep one of each species? they can’t cross breed can they? :O apologies for newbie questions, i have inverts but new to millies so just trying to educate! i have no clue what i could do with baby millies so im trying to figure out a way of aboiding breeding 😅

[@Aquarimax]

All good Things i appreciate your questions. 👍🏽if you keep only males of each species, it could work...if you put one female of each species together, they might already have mated, so you might end up with babies even with only one of each species.

[@tinyfalcon1279]

will you have millipedes available soon?

[@Aquarimax]

hailey eve I have a permit to receive them, but not to ship them yet.

[@DaveBendit]

About how long does it take to go from hatching to breeding? I have a colony of a dozen adults who just had a ton of babies hatch, and I'm curious how long it'll take til they reach adulthood.

[@Aquarimax]

It seems to be about a year to a year and a half...

[@DaveBendit]

@@Aquarimax Excellent, thanks! So many sites go over what it takes to breed them, but nobody ever mentions their growth rate. It's a real pain!

[@Aquarimax]

Good point! I’m wish I had thought of that when I was making the video. 🤣

[@christopherdukes4649]

Are these a viable option for vivarium clean up crew? Thinking of adding a soil aerator to my bioactive setup but don't want to go the earthworm route if I can help it.

[@Aquarimax]

Itndepends on what you are keeping in terms of macro fauna, but I Kight suggest a butrowing isopod like giant canyons instead. Some lizards, frogs, etc would try to eat bumblebee millipedes and none involved would be happy about it.

[@christopherdukes4649]

@@Aquarimax oh this would be for a ball python enclosure so not worried about the main inhabitant eating them....so outside of that are they not worth the hassle of being a member of the cleaner crew? I have a colony of spanish orange scaber in there already so I didn't want to mix isopod morphs and really not interested in worms either.

[@Aquarimax]

Christopher Dukes I wouldn’t bother adding anything else for soil aeration. P. scaber aren’t big burrowers, but they should do a good job as a cleanup crew, and will turn the substrate to some extent.

[@christopherdukes4649]

@@Aquarimax hey thanks for the advice....will leave the job to the scabers.

[@bendunbar2887]

do the babies of these species burrow more than the adults or is it just a trait of the species not being very surface active? havent seen mine since i got them (babies)

[@Aquarimax]

They do tend to burrow a lot even the adults, though they tend to come out at night quite a bit.

[@GarciaJhonMichaelS]

I'm worried about oak pellets, when you use oak pellet for the substrate it does not mold?

[@Aquarimax]

Not any more than other substrates…and adding springtails right away can help avoid the issue

[@hamboneblues8923]

Could you use millipedes as a clean up crew?

[@Photron52]

Is there any smaller type of millipedes ? The terrarium that I am using now is only a ten G aquarium. I had it already when the terrarium bug bit me so I decided to try a trial run with it. The temp stays rather constant in my house. So in the night when the light timer turns off the under the tank heat pad and the lights, the temp will get down to very close to 70F plus or minus 1-2 degree. Then when the heating pad is on during the day it gets up to 82 degree F.

[@Aquarimax]

Gecxid Rureel there are some other millipedes of similar or smaller siz. Scarlet millipedes are maybe a little smaller, and not so temperature sensitive. Feather millipedes are smaller and like it rather cool.

[@Photron52]

@@Aquarimax Thank You...

[@jasonhiggins.3853]

😊😅😊😅 If anyone is looking for amber millipedes let me know. I have many adults & babies.❤❤❤❤❤

[@zer0coolninja887]

1st comment

[@zer0coolninja887]

Have any of you ever seen a millipeed trip??

[@Aquarimax]

Zer0cool NINJA88 It seems like that would be hard to do with so many feet!

[@__-be1gk]

I still don't know if you and Clint are friends or if you're just aping off his title for views while pretending it's parody

[@Aquarimax]

__ Clint and I have communicated quite a bit and are looking forward to meeting in person!