I'm thinking of purchasing one of these if I can find one, but I would like a bit more info first.

A big thing I'm wondering about is what their diet is. I read that it's leaf litter. Does this mean strictly fallen leaves, or can I just take them off the tree? Should I let them sit for a while?

I read to boil them to destroy outside bacteria...

And if it's the case that they will just eat wild outside leaves then what happens in the winter? Also, are there some leaves I have to avoid? I have a few trees in my back yard but I don't know if they're appropriate for the mill.

I also just wanted some more basic info. I had read online %80 humidity, temps around the 70s, small cages work well, deep substrate for burrowing? Don't do a lot of substrate changes? What kind of substrate is okay to use? I use coconut shavings or something for my grammostola rosea.

Should the leaves be shredded, mashed, left as is?

Do they suffer from mites like the african blacks do?

Unless they're NATIVE to the USA, they're illegal, I think... Someone can correct me on this. But for legal millipede care, Orin offers some texts, and he'll probably post in this thread as millipedes are near and dear to him.

That's strange. I read someone had found one in a local petco and I see a few people who keep them, too.
I don't think African Blacks are native to the usa either though...as it's an African Black, and they are also quite commonly kept here.

Illegal? Well, congress never passed a milipede ban, so not exactly. However, the USDA does consider them to be potential plant pests (mainly because of mites and other possible hitchikers that may come with them or in the soil packed with them), so recently they started blocking imports. As a result, millipedes that were once common and cheap (like tha afore metioned AGB's) are now rare and expensive in the trade. This is because without the WC animals in the mix, the CB stock is now more valuable. The good news is that the USDA does not APPEAR to be concerned with CB animals, at least at the present time.

I don't know if the rainbow millipedes from Vietnam are available as CB, but if you can find them "leaf litter" means dead and decaying plant matter found on the ground...NOT fresh leaves. The best leaf litter comes from hardwoods (oak, maple, etc) and has been rotting on the ground for a few months. Also, rotting wood...rotten to the point where it can be broken up in your hands.

This material should be treated to kill off pests before offering it to millipedes. Heat is probably the most effective. I've cooked it in the microwave, or boiled it. I always do this with very damp material to prevent the risk of fire! Freezing is moderately effective, but not as good as heat. One easy (and safe) way to do it (if you live in a place where it's sunny and hot) is to put it in black plastic trash bags and leasve it in the sun for several days.

Also, detritus feeding millipedes also usually enjoy mushrooms.

Wade

Thanks Wade, one of these days I'll learn the all the regulations on inverts.

Does it necessarily have to rot on the ground? Is there any way I could take a bundle of leaves and let them rot in advance, in some kind of container? I could try to leave it without a lid.

Fresh leaves? Maybe it would work, but generally I use leaves that have at least fallen naturally, but even those have tannins the millipedes may not like and need to be aged somehow. However, either might work if you compost them long enough. you can find plenty of tips on composting on the web, but for millipedes just remember to stick with leaves and hardwood products, avoid the grass clippings, eggshells etc!

I also add aspen bedding, finely shredded, to moist coconut fiber bedding for millipedes. The aspen will eventualy rot and become edible to the millipedes.

Also, I've heard that in some places garden centers sell "oak leaf mould" which is just composted oak leaves. I've never been able to find this for sale myself, and I'm assuming it's not available in all regions. However, if you're lucky enough to find it, it seems like a perfect millipede food/substrate.

If your stuck with waiting for leaves to decompose, I'd suggest using organic, store-bough mushrooms in the meantime. Most wood/leaf litter eaters relish these.

Wade

The USDA has the power to regulate any invertebrate through legislation passed one decade ago. Tarantulas and other predatory arachnids are classified as secondary plant pests because they could eradicate (eat) control animals for plant pests.

Vietnamese rainbow millipedes are notoriously weak and easily killed. Captive bred used to be rare but are now likely nonexistent. The Thai rainbow, a closely related species, it's very hardy and available as C.B. though not so pretty.