Giant centipede handling - Scolopendra alternans

A rather lengthy (and hopefully not too boring) video of me handling The Beast - a 7.5-inch Haitian Giant centipede (Scolopendra alternans). She, despite her size, is by far the calmest and most laid back centipede I have ever had, as well as the largest!

She recently produced a clutch of viable young. Photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arachnophark/sets/72157624758457939/

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Scolopendra alternans handling
• scolopendra
• alternans
• giant Haitian centipede
• centipede
• giant centipede
• handling
• venomous
• dangerous
• big
• scary
• chilopod
• myriapod
• Myriapoda
• War Machine
• ACDC
• Iron Man

[Scullnblades]

1:45 to 1:50, look at his rear end, he just pooped on your arm :o

And you're brave for holding him, I've heard they are really dangerous and can inflict an incredibly painful bite, has he ever bitten you? I used to keep two giant millipedes, they were no problem at all...

[Phark07]

@Scullnblades

One of her babies did, and I couldn't sleep at all that night because of the pain. This species is reputedly one of the more toxic species, and I'm sure if it was the mother (the one in the video) that bit me instead I would at least have been hospitalised.

[IronManOfficialguy]

If it was to bite/sting or whatever it is they do, is it something to worry about? I heard a sting from them can sometimes require a doctor. I have always avoided the ones in my area because of it.

[Phark07]

@IronManOfficialguy

Their venom effects vary from species to species, but as a general rule the bite doesn't cause anything more than localised pain and swelling.

[softypapa]

I wonder why this centipede did not bite you while the S. subspinipes mutilan went in direct for the kill? Perhaps this centipede was recently fed? ~Kurt :-)

[Phark07]

Behavior varies among different species, and indeed, even among different individuals within a species. I have had different specimens of S. subspinipes mutilans act very differently - some wanted to bite my face off while a few others were quite docile. Also, S. alternans has a reputation for being much more calm and docile than the various Asian species (most of which are extremely skittish and prone to biting).

[puppyeater808]

I was bitten by one when i was small and am scared of them now. even if i see one crawling on the ground i get scared and start smashing it. once i pushed one into a metal bucket and then caught some other bugs and stuff and watched it bite everything. then i burned it :)

[ilove123ist]

Is this Singapore?

[helioscephelles]

"Keep Away From BEAR GRYLLS"

[1327177]

dud please reply asap i am getting 2 Scolopendra alternans and do they need a lot of humidity and are they hard to raise thanks

[ARTURCUK]

Donkey too dangerous to fool people

[juggernautreptiles]

Nice centipede have u ever held the worlds biggest centipede

[esguitcha]

OMG a suicide!you have balls!

[Carnibis]

thats a good good looking pede any ideas were i can get some larg pedes i have a Tanzanian blue leg allready but am looking for something much larger pls help

[mkotrc1]

This centipede is awesome and cute :-)), but so dangerous :-((, and so much big - aroung 14 inches :-p

[Mr123dannyg]

My scolopendra subspinipes whoops my ass and it really hurts lol

[eddy536]

hey bro, can you suggest me any species that i could get ? I really want one that can grow up to a massive size ! Like really big, maybe exceeding 20cm ? Any species that i should get ? I live in hong kong btw, thanks :)