Red Dragon Centipede (scientific name: Scolopendra subspinipes subspinipes) is a species of centipede widely distributed in southern China, subtropical regions, and tropical areas. It is known as the 'Chinese Giant Red Dragon Centipede' due to its deep red color and large size, which have distinctive Chinese characteristics. The adult body length ranges from 14 to 20 cm, and the whole body is red or dark red. It has a gentle temperament and mainly feeds on crickets and mealworms. Due to its intense feeding scenes, it is highly ornamental when kept as a pet.
Red Dragon Centipede is a relatively easy-to-raise species of centipede. It can eat almost any insects. Of course, as a centipede, it is inevitable that it is poisonous. However, it is generally safe to handle and play with it in your hand. Although its toxicity is not very strong, being bitten by it can still cause severe pain and swelling. Beginners should try to avoid handling it.
Chinese name: 红龙蜈蚣
Latin name: Scolopendra subspinipes dehaani [China]
Order: Centipedes
Genus: Scolopendra
Distribution area: It is distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Hainan, with the most abundant population in Hainan.
Body length: 20cm
I. Black Spot Disease
There are differently sized black spots found on the bottom and head of the Red Dragon Centipede. You can use 0.6 grams of Shimo's mother, 0.25 grams of tetracycline, and 0.25 grams of chloramphenicol, grind them together, and feed them with feed for 7 days to prevent and treat the disease. For severe cases, you can separate feedings. Emulsifying agents such as kanamycin, amphotericin B, streptomycin, and iochlorin can also be used for prevention and treatment.
II. Gastroenteritis
Feed 0.5 grams of sulfa tablets mixed with feed for enteral feeding, or feed 0.25 grams of chloramphenicol mixed with 300 grams of feed for enteral feeding.
III. Green Mold Disease
Also known as green fungal disease, it is the main disease of artificially breeding Red Dragon Centipedes. From mid-June to the end of August, due to high temperatures, high humidity, and food mold, Red Dragon Centipedes are prone to infection by pathogens. In the early stages of infection, small black or green spots appear on the skin of the joints, and then gradually expand; then the surface of the body loses its luster, black spots appear under the abdomen, appetite decreases, and movement becomes sluggish, and ultimately the centipede dies due to refusal to eat and become emaciated. The main cause of this disease is excessive humidity in the breeding environment or rotting and toxic changes of residual food in the pool.
Prevention and treatment methods:
(1) Remove moldy food, provide fresh live food, maintain good hygiene in the breeding pool, and carry out disinfection and sterilization.
(2) Adjust the temperature and humidity in the breeding pool and maintain ventilation and moisture removal.
(3) For infected centipedes, spray 0.25 grams of penicillin mixed with 1 kilogram of water for disinfection or drinking.
(4) Use 0.6 grams of Shimo's mother, 0.25 grams of tetracycline, and 0.25 grams of chloramphenicol, grind them into powder, mix them evenly with 400 grams of feed, and feed the infected centipedes until they recover.
IV. Abdominal Distention Disease
Centipedes are prone to this disease during the low temperature period after autumn rain. It is mostly caused by overeating and low temperatures. In the early stages of the disease, the head of the centipede turns purplish-red. The venom hooks are fully stretched, do not eat or eat less, the abdomen becomes swollen, and the movement becomes slow. After about a week of illness, death occurs.
Prevention and treatment methods:
(1) Use 1 gram of Shimo's mother mixed with 500 grams of water for suction and raise the temperature.
(2) Grind 0.5 pieces of sulfonamide tablets into powder and mix with 300 grams of feed; or mix 0.25 grams of chloramphenicol with 300 grams of feed, feed every other day until recovery.
V. Shell Peeling Disease
The direct bacteria causing this disease parasitize in the body when the centipede's habitat is too humid. In the early stages, the centipede shows restlessness and crawling back and forth. In the later stages, it becomes weak, moves slowly, and eventually dies due to no eating or movement.
Prevention and treatment methods: Grind 0.25 grams of tetracycline, 0.6 grams of Shimo's mother, and 1 gram of calcium tablets into fine powder, mix with 400 grams of feed, and feed for several days until recovery.
VI. Ant Damage
Centipedes in the molting or egg-laying and hatching period have weak resistance. At this time, ants will swarm and attack them, causing the centipedes during molting to be bitten to death, or causing the female centipedes during hatching to abandon their eggs and escape.
Prevention and treatment methods:
(1) Dig a moat around the breeding pool and inject water to prevent ants from entering.
(2) Use fruits or other sweet foods to lure ants away, and scald them with boiling water.
Black spot disease, gastroenteritis, green mold disease, abdominal distention disease, shell peeling disease, and ant damage are common diseases in the cultivation of Red Dragon Centipedes, which are closely related to our feeding management. If not properly fed, the incidence of diseases will be high. If carefully bred, the incidence of diseases will be low. Therefore, to improve breeding efficiency, the work of disease prevention and treatment must not be relaxed.
Keep: 1. A larger breeding space is required. I recommend a box, also need a flat hiding place, I also recommend one, and a higher water basin.
Feeding food. Timing and Quantitative Feeding, and evenly distributed. There are certain requirements for its food. Eat less fish and shrimp and eat more mealworms. Banquet melons and fruits bugs, rotten meat, and overnight meat. Choose Yellow mealworm as the feed and can also be fed with fresh cooked fish (cooked, crushed and spread thinly on the plate) every 15-20 days. Fresh cooked loach is even better. Centipedes over 40 days old can eat cooked egg yolk. Fresh ones must be used every day. Centipedes over 50 days old can be separated from the mother. At this time, large centipedes should be taken out and small centipedes should be left for feeding. - Breeding methods. During the active period of the red dragon centipede, feed every afternoon from 5-6 pm, and feed once a day (800 pieces can eat about 1.5 kg in 30 days). First, wash the food and drinking utensils and wipe them dry without leaving water droplets. Place them dispersedly in the centipede pool, so that each centipede can get close and eat the food. At this time, evenly feed yellow mealworms (or fish), and add cool boiled water to the drinking water dish. Do not spray water indoors before feeding. Feed on time every day, do not feed too much fish, stop at the right amount to avoid excessive food, indigestion, and food poisoning. The water dish should be flat and shallow (about 1-1.5 cm deep), and fresh cool boiled water should be drunk once a day. Keep the indoor hygiene and prevent flies. The room temperature usually stays at 20-25℃. Heating is required in winter. Pay attention to observe the centipede for any abnormality in spirit. Prevention and control of diseases and pests
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