Pet Centipedes for Sale
One of the most unique and intense invertebrates in the hobby, and every centipede we carry is captive bred. There's no true beginner centipede species, every one asks a bit more of you than the last invertebrate you kept, and that's exactly the appeal for a lot of keepers. Stock rotates species to species rather than holding one fixed lineup, so use the filters and sorting options below to see what's currently available, and selecting multiple filters shows products matching every filter selected.
Why Keep Centipedes?
Another Level of Keeping
With no true beginner centipede species, this is where a lot of experienced tarantula and scorpion keepers go next, often called the ultimate invertebrate to work up to.
Great Display Animals
Metallic bands and coloration unlike anything else in the invertebrate world, paired with an animal that's actually active and visible rather than tucked away.
Huge Size Diversity
Species range from a couple of inches to over a foot at full size, real variety to build a collection around.
Built to Explore
Highly active and always on the move, hunting, patrolling, digging, or climbing depending on the species, rarely a dull moment.
Centipede Care Basics
No true beginner centipede exists, every species asks more of you than the last invertebrate you kept. Here’s what actually matters once you bring one home.
Fast, Aggressive Feeders
Centipedes feed with a strong, fast response, genuinely fun to watch. Offer appropriately sized roaches or crickets every one to two weeks for adults, more often for fast growing juveniles.
Airflow, Never Bone Dry
Good cross ventilation keeps the enclosure from turning stagnant, but the substrate should never be allowed to fully dry out. Spot clean regularly, and give them more room than you’d expect, centipedes are active hunters that like to patrol.
Locking Enclosure Required
Centipedes are highly intelligent escape artists that can work a latch loose or find the one gap in a lid, and most commercial caging isn’t built to hold one. A true locking cage matters even more with kids in the house. Our Tarantula Room enclosures are what we use for our own centipedes in house, and they lock down properly.
Medically Significant Venom
A centipede bite is genuinely something to respect and is medically significant, though it isn’t considered deadly. We suggest only intermediate to advanced keepers take on a centipede, every species asks more of you than a true beginner animal.
Size Range: A Couple Inches to Over a Foot
Size varies enormously by species, from a couple of inches up to over a foot at full size. That range means there’s a centipede suited to almost any collection or display setup.
Terrestrial, Fossorial, Climbing, or Semi-Aquatic
Most species in the hobby are highly active terrestrial hunters, rarely sitting still. Some are more fossorial and dig extensively, some climb given the chance, and a few are even semi-aquatic.
Centipede FAQ
What kind of centipedes do you sell?
Every centipede we carry is a captive bred Scolopendra species, the large, fast moving Old World genus most people picture when they think giant centipede. Size and coloration vary a lot by species, from a couple of inches up to over a foot, and availability rotates rather than holding one fixed lineup.
Is there a beginner-friendly centipede?
Not really, and that's part of what makes them different. Every centipede species asks more of a keeper than the last invertebrate you probably had, they're medically significant, highly active, and genuinely intelligent animals. We recommend working up to centipedes after some experience with tarantulas or scorpions rather than starting here, and treating every species as an advanced species regardless of size.
What kind of enclosure does a centipede need?
A true locking enclosure, not just a snug fitting lid. Centipedes are highly intelligent and genuinely skilled at working a latch loose or finding a gap, and most commercial caging isn't built to hold one, so this is worth researching before you buy. They also do best in a larger cage than their size would suggest, with good airflow and substrate that's never allowed to fully dry out. Our Tarantula Room enclosures are what we use for our own centipedes in house.
How venomous is a centipede?
Every centipede species is medically significant, not deadly, but a bite is a genuine event, not a minor irritation. It's a real step up from a tarantula bite or a scorpion sting, which is exactly why centipedes aren't something we recommend for a first invertebrate and why a secure, locking enclosure matters as much as it does.
Why do some centipede species show as sold out?
Centipedes restock species to species rather than us holding a fixed standing lineup. If the one you want is showing sold out, subscribe for a back in stock notification on that product page, restocks come through regularly.
Is it safe to buy a live centipede online?
Yes. Every centipede ships captive bred, packed for overnight FedEx delivery, and covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, the same standard we hold every live animal to.
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