RecoveryInvertebrates
Vietnamese centipede care guide
Scolopendra dehaani
Substrate depth is the enclosure. Give at least 10 in of packed burrowing mix — a fossorial species with shallow substrate sits exposed and stressed at the surface.
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing
Vietnamese centipede enclosure size
Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing. An adult vietnamese centipede should live in at least 12" L × 10" W × 14" H; we build toward 16" L × 12" W × 16" H (1.3 × 1 × 1.3 ft, roughly 1.3 sq ft of floor and about a 13-gallon glass equivalent).
Measure height as substrate depth plus a few inches of air, not as climbing space.
- Spiderling / sling
- 3" L × 3" W × 5" H recommended · min 2" L × 2" W × 4" H
- Juvenile
- 6" L × 6" W × 9" H recommended · min 5" L × 5" W × 7" H
- Adult
- 16" L × 12" W × 16" H recommended · min 12" L × 10" W × 14" H
Temperature and heating
Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — no basking site, no heat lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–80 °F ambient room temperature
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75 °F ambient room temperature
- Night
- Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Run lights on a Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 60–70% ambient. Dampen one corner of the substrate every week or two and keep a water dish full — never soak the whole enclosure.
Substrate and depth
Packed coco fibre, topsoil and a little clay so tunnels hold their shape. Depth: 10–14 in.
- Ventilation: Side vents above the substrate line, so the deep layer stays damp while the surface breathes.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Cork bark round pressed into the substrate as a burrow start
- Water dish at the surface
- Leaf litter for humidity and cover
Build list
- Deep-substrate enclosure with a locking lid — Fossorial species push lids off from below, and centipedes squeeze through any gap.
- Topsoil / coco fibre / clay burrowing mix — Pure coco fibre collapses; a clay fraction lets tunnels hold.
- Digital thermometer / hygrometer — Inverts are kept at room temperature — you need to know what the room actually does, not guess.
- Long feeding tongs and a catch cup — Every interaction — feeding, water top-ups, rehousing — should happen without your hand near the animal.
Vietnamese centipede FAQ
How big should an adult Vietnamese centipede enclosure be?
At least 12" L × 10" W × 14" H, and we recommend building to 16" L × 12" W × 16" H — about 1.3 × 1 × 1.3 ft, or a 13-gallon glass equivalent. Fossorial — deep substrate for burrowing.
What temperatures does a Vietnamese centipede need?
Basking or warm surface None — no basking site, no heat lamp, warm side 72–80 °F ambient room temperature, cool side 70–75 °F ambient room temperature, night Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine. Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
Does a Vietnamese centipede need UVB?
None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Photoperiod: Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun.
What humidity does a Vietnamese centipede need?
60–70% ambient. Dampen one corner of the substrate every week or two and keep a water dish full — never soak the whole enclosure.
What substrate is best for a Vietnamese centipede?
Packed coco fibre, topsoil and a little clay so tunnels hold their shape, at a depth of 10–14 in.
How big does a Vietnamese centipede enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Spiderling / sling: 3" L × 3" W × 5" H recommended, minimum 2" L × 2" W × 4" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
Is there anything to be careful about when keeping a Vietnamese centipede?
Excruciating venom, lightning fast and a determined escape artist. Locked lid, tongs, and never work in the enclosure with bare hands.
How much ventilation does a Vietnamese centipede enclosure need?
Side vents above the substrate line, so the deep layer stays damp while the surface breathes.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own vietnamese centipede record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.