Built In Burrow 1.0 (BIB) Containers, Centi Primary Build

cacoseraph · Built In Burrow 1.0 (BIB) Containers, Centi Primary Build

Hello. I have a nice and easy container design that has netted me baby centipedes in the past. The reason i came up with this design is that i had trouble with my substrates not holding a burrow for very long (i can do 6-12 months for tarantulas, but much much shorter for centipedes as the are constantly moving the dirt w/o webbing it). With this approach the burrow is made out of plastic and can't collapse. Yay!

1) Heavily score the inside of the small tupperware type container that is going to be the actual built in burrow. In nature the burrow walls are very rough, allowing the babies and mom to walk on the floor, walls, and ceiling. This might actually be kind of important as when i dug Ethmostigmus moms up they were always hanging upside down holding onto the eggs or nymphs.

2) Cut an access hole for the burrow. Try to make sure there are no sharp burrs or points in the newly cut hole. Be careful, i always cut/stab/injure myself.

3) Flame the edges of the newly cut hole to smooth out any rough or sharp spots. MAKE SURE you are actually getting a smooth edge after by feeling it. Sometimes you have to reflame little parts.

4) Make a very firm cake of substrate on the bottom of the cage. Really pack it down! You don't want the centipede to be able to easily push that bottom layer around. After you have a firm cake put the burrow in. The interior of the tupperware should be facing down. Orient the tup so that the access hole is the highest part, if possible.

5) Now, it took me a while to figure this out... but when you bury the burrow, you need to add and pack the substrate so that the access hole is just barely beneath the level of the new substrate once it is all packed down. If you add too much sub then the silly centipedes can't reliably find the burrow and they will stop using it.

I guess since this involves knives and fire if you are a kid you should get your parent or guardian's help/permission before starting this project.

Steven

Ok... little blind red...I buried a 2oz plastic "dixie" for "her". Dug it up to get a few pics. It used the hide from the day I buried it. Wink

DavidRS

Some examples of variations of Caco's B.I.B: http://scabies.myfreeforum.org/sutra10170.php#10170

I used a small clear plastic container on one, and coconut hides on two more hot-glued to the sides of the enclosures.

TheJackal

very cool, I plan on getting my first pede soon, so I will keep this in mind

Celeste

Built In Burrow 1.0 (BIB) Containers, Centi Primary Build

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