What a giant millipede really costs

An American giant millipede costs $4–$15, but live shipping is $25–$40 or more, so expect about $33–$55 delivered. A plastic enclosure, 10 quarts of calcium-enriched millipede substrate, leaves, a cork hide and a water dish run about $45–$170 (typically about $70), and because the substrate is also the main food, replacing it plus calcium, leaves and an occasional prepared diet comes to about $60 a year. The African giant millipede is not an option for most keepers: USDA treats it as a plant pest.

Life expectancy: 5–10 years
Size: Up to about 4 in long (record about 4 in / 10 cm)
Care level: Low
Price: $33–$55
Setup: About $70
Insurance: Not offered

Estimate for: One American giant millipede (Narceus americanus), a native US species, bought online as a captive-bred or US-collected juvenile or adult with live shipping, kept alone at room temperature in an Exo Terra Faunarium Large on 4–6 in of calcium-enriched millipede substrate. It does not cover the African giant millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas), which USDA treats as a plant pest and which is not legally sold in the US without federal permits. Space needed: An enclosure at least twice as long and as wide as the millipede is long, with 4–6 in of substrate; an Exo Terra Faunarium Large (14½ × 8½ × 10 in) fits one adult.

Lifetime cost$600 First year $170Then about $60 a year

Where the money goes each year

A typical year for a giant millipede, with typical spending in an average-cost area.

Substrate replacement$30
Leaf litter top-ups$12
Calcium substrate supplement$9
Fresh produce and prepared diet$8
Typical year$60

Most years land between $10 and $110. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.

Setup and the first year

For giant millipedes, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.

Getting set up

Price (one millipede from an online invertebrate dealer (including live shipping))$44
Plastic enclosure (Exo Terra Faunarium Large, 14½ × 8½ × 10 in)$23
Calcium-enriched millipede substrate, 4–6 in deep$30
Dried hardwood leaves (food and cover)$3
Cork bark hide$6
Shallow water dish$7
Pressure sprayer for misting (optional)$0
Upfront$110

Running costs in year one

Substrate replacement$30
Fresh produce and prepared diet$8
Calcium substrate supplement$9
Leaf litter top-ups$12
Year-one running costs$60

First-year total: $170.

Make it your estimate

Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.

Your lifetime estimate$600 First year $170Then about $60 a yearOver 8 years

$5 a month in a typical year.

Substrate replacement$30
Leaf litter top-ups$12
Calcium substrate supplement$9
Fresh produce and prepared diet$8
Typical year$60

What to buy

The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to a giant millipede. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.

Plastic enclosure (Exo Terra Faunarium Large, 14½ × 8½ × 10 in)Setup, typically about $23
See on Amazon
Calcium-enriched millipede substrate, 4–6 in deepSetup, typically about $30
See on Amazon
Dried hardwood leaves (food and cover)Setup, typically about $3
See on Amazon
Cork bark hideSetup, typically about $6
See on Amazon
Shallow water dishSetup, typically about $7
See on Amazon
Pressure sprayer for misting (optional)Setup, typically about $0
See on Amazon
Fresh produce and prepared dietOngoing, typically about $8 a year
See on Amazon
Calcium substrate supplementOngoing, typically about $9 a year
See on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.

Health costs to plan for

Condition	What it is	Typical treatment	Cost
Drying out	Bugs in Cyberspace calls lack of humidity the most common killer of pet millipedes and says they need extra humidity when molting; Josh's Frogs says to keep the bottom of the substrate moist and let only the top dry slightly. Source	Water the substrate and mist; a lost millipede costs $33–$55 delivered to replace	$0–$55
Mites and mold from leftover food	Bugs in Cyberspace says mites can infest food left too long in the cage, and Josh's Frogs says to remove moldy food. Captive-bred millipedes do not carry the commensal mites found on wild-caught African giants. Source	Remove leftovers and replace the substrate (Milli Mix $9.99 for 2 qt, $29.99 for 10 qt)	$10–$30
Calcium depletion	Josh's Frogs says calcium-containing substrate is important for commonly kept pet millipedes and that clean-up animals deplete a substrate's calcium over time. Source	MicroCal substrate supplement ($8.99) or fresh calcium-enriched Milli Mix ($29.99)	$9–$30

The yearly estimate includes an average of $0 for illness and injury. No mainstream US insurer covers millipedes. Nationwide's avian and exotic plan lists birds, rabbits, mini pigs and goats, lizards/reptiles/frogs, guinea pigs, and ferrets and small mammals, and says any species not listed is ineligible.

What drives the cost

Shipping costs more than the millipede: Bugs in Cyberspace sells Narceus americanus for $8 but charges $25 for 2-day live-guarantee shipping ($33 total), or $50–$58 for FedEx overnight, which it requires when the daytime high is over 83°F. Josh's Frogs charges $14.99 plus a flat $39.99 overnight ($54.98). Ordering several millipedes or supplies in one box spreads the shipping.
Substrate is the main expense because it is also the food: Josh's Frogs says the diet is mainly substrate (decomposing wood and leaves), 4–6 in deep. A 10-quart bag of Milli Mix ($29.99) fills a 10-gallon tank, and Josh's Frogs says to replace it when it looks like garden soil or droppings make up more than half.
A small plastic Faunarium ($15.81–$26.99) is enough for one adult; Josh's Frogs' rule is an enclosure at least as wide as the millipede is long and twice as long. A 10-gallon glass tank ($29.99 on sale, $59.99 regular at PetSmart) holds 3–4 according to Ward's Science, but it needs about twice the substrate.
No heat or lights are needed: Josh's Frogs gives 65–78°F as safe, with the low-to-mid 70s ideal, so electricity is $0 in a normal home.
Food beyond the substrate is cheap: a weekly slice of apple, cucumber, peeled zucchini or romaine from the kitchen (Josh's Frogs), plus optional Repashy Bug Burger ($8.49 for 3 oz) for calcium.
Lifespan is uncertain: the University of Virginia's Mountain Lake station says Narceus americanus takes 1–2 years to mature and lives several years, and up to 11 years has been reported. This estimate uses 5–10 years, so lifetime costs could be lower if yours was bought as an adult.

Is it legal where you live?

Native North American species such as Narceus americanus are legal to keep in most of the US: Ward's Science says North American millipedes are not restricted, while USDA considers giant tropical millipedes such as the African giant (Archispirostreptus gigas) plant pests. USDA APHIS's PPQ 526 permit covers importing and moving invertebrates between states, and Spirobolus is the only millipede genus on its list exempt from interstate permits, so APHIS advises contacting it before buying. Florida requires a permit and locked or double containment for all non-native millipedes, naming A. gigas. Hawaii prohibits importing animals not on its lists, and no millipedes are listed; dealers will not ship there. Never release a millipede outdoors.

Restricted or banned in: Florida, Hawaii.

Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.

One millipede from an online invertebrate dealer (including live shipping): $33–$55
Lifetime: $600

How this estimate is built

Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.

Item	Typical	Range	Basis and sources
Setup
Plastic enclosure (Exo Terra Faunarium Large, 14½ × 8½ × 10 in)	$23	$16–$60	Josh's Frogs: an enclosure at least as wide as the millipede is long and at least twice as long; Critter Keepers, small aquaria or modified plastic storage boxes all work. Ward's Science: 3–5 gallons for one, 10 gallons for 3–4. Typical: Exo Terra Faunarium Large $22.99 at That Pet Place. Low: the same on sale at Josh's Frogs, $15.81 (regularly $26.99). High: Thrive 10-gallon glass terrarium with locking screen lid at its regular $59.99 at PetSmart; Bugs in Cyberspace says millipedes need little airflow, so part of a screen lid may need covering to hold humidity. That Pet Place: Exo Terra Faunarium Large, 14.5 × 8.5 × 10 in ($22.99); Josh's Frogs: Exo Terra Faunarium Large, 14½ × 8½ × 10 in ($15.81 sale, regularly $26.99); PetSmart: Thrive 10 Gallon Open Glass Terrarium, 20 × 10 × 12 in ($29.99 sale, $59.99 regular); Josh's Frogs: Giant Pink Foot Millipede 'Giant Orange', Narceus americanus ($14.99 each; care notes; ships FedEx, not to HI); Ward's Science: Millipedes Living Materials Care Sheet (USDA plant-pest status, care); Bugs in Cyberspace: Live Pet Millipede Care Sheet
Calcium-enriched millipede substrate, 4–6 in deep	$30	$30–$60	Josh's Frogs: a mix of soil, wood and leaves 4–6 in deep, moist at the bottom; Bugs in Cyberspace says coconut fiber or peat alone is unsuitable. A 14½ × 8½ in floor filled 5 in deep is about 616 cu in, or 10.7 qt. Typical and low: one 10 qt bag of Josh's Frogs Milli Mix ($29.99; Josh's Frogs says it fills a 10-gallon tank). High: two bags for a 10-gallon tank filled deeper. Josh's Frogs: Milli Mix Calcium Enriched Millipede and Isopod Substrate, 10 qt ($29.99; 2 qt $9.99; directions); Josh's Frogs: Giant Pink Foot Millipede 'Giant Orange', Narceus americanus ($14.99 each; care notes; ships FedEx, not to HI); Bugs in Cyberspace: Live Pet Millipede Care Sheet
Dried hardwood leaves (food and cover)	$3	$0–$6	Ward's Science and Josh's Frogs list decaying leaves and hardwood as the main diet. Typical: one Bugs in Cyberspace dried leaf bag, $3. Low: collected backyard hardwood leaves, untreated (Ward's: no chemically treated materials). High: two bags. Bugs in Cyberspace: Live pet millipedes (Narceus americanus $8, pale form $9; cork bark $6; leaf bag $3); Ward's Science: Millipedes Living Materials Care Sheet (USDA plant-pest status, care); Josh's Frogs: Giant Pink Foot Millipede 'Giant Orange', Narceus americanus ($14.99 each; care notes; ships FedEx, not to HI)
Cork bark hide	$6	$0–$6	Bugs in Cyberspace includes a half-log hide in its millipede kit and sells cork bark for $6. Low: skipped, since millipedes burrow in deep substrate. Bugs in Cyberspace: Live pet millipedes (Narceus americanus $8, pale form $9; cork bark $6; leaf bag $3); Bugs in Cyberspace: Complete Millipede Habitat Kits ($34.99, free shipping)
Shallow water dish	$7	$0–$7	Josh's Frogs says a small water bowl is fine but optional; Bugs in Cyberspace suggests a shallow dish with pebbles, an upside-down lid, or pouring water into a corner every few days. Typical: Zoo Med Repti Rock water dish, small (1 in deep), $6.59 at Dubia.com. Low: a jar lid. Dubia.com: Zoo Med Repti Rock Reptile Water Dish, Small ($6.59); Josh's Frogs: Giant Pink Foot Millipede 'Giant Orange', Narceus americanus ($14.99 each; care notes; ships FedEx, not to HI); Bugs in Cyberspace: Live Pet Millipede Care Sheet
Pressure sprayer for misting (optional)	$0	$0–$30	Josh's Frogs: keep humidity up by misting and keeping the substrate moist. Typical and low: a household spray bottle or pouring water into a corner (Bugs in Cyberspace). High: Zoo Med Reptimister 2 L pressure sprayer, $30.00 at Aqua Lab Aquaria. Aqua Lab Aquaria: Zoo Med Reptimister 2 L pressure sprayer ($30.00); Josh's Frogs: Giant Pink Foot Millipede 'Giant Orange', Narceus americanus ($14.99 each; care notes; ships FedEx, not to HI); Bugs in Cyberspace: Live Pet Millipede Care Sheet
Every year
Substrate replacement	$30	$10–$60	Josh's Frogs: replace Milli Mix when it resembles garden soil or eaten substrate (small droppings) is more than half of it. Typical: one full change a year with a 10 qt bag ($29.99). Low: topping up with one 2 qt bag ($9.99). High: two full changes a year. The yearly rate is an estimate; no source gives one for a single millipede. Josh's Frogs: Milli Mix Calcium Enriched Millipede and Isopod Substrate, 10 qt ($29.99; 2 qt $9.99; directions); Josh's Frogs: Bumblebee Millipede 'Jamaican', Anadenobolus monillicornis, captive bred ($14.99; care notes; Milli Mix and Repashy Bug Burger prices)
Fresh produce and prepared diet	$8	$0–$17	Josh's Frogs: food is mainly the substrate, plus fresh fruit or leafy greens about once a week (apple, cucumber, peeled zucchini, romaine, strawberries), with moldy food removed; Repashy Bug Burger adds calcium. Typical: kitchen produce plus one 3 oz Bug Burger a year ($8.49 at Josh's Frogs, $9.99 regular). Low: kitchen scraps only. High: two packs. Pack count is an estimate. Josh's Frogs: Bumblebee Millipede 'Jamaican', Anadenobolus monillicornis, captive bred ($14.99; care notes; Milli Mix and Repashy Bug Burger prices); Josh's Frogs: Giant Pink Foot Millipede 'Giant Orange', Narceus americanus ($14.99 each; care notes; ships FedEx, not to HI); Josh's Frogs: Milli Mix Calcium Enriched Millipede and Isopod Substrate, 10 qt ($29.99; 2 qt $9.99; directions)
Calcium substrate supplement	$9	$0–$9	Josh's Frogs says calcium-containing substrate is important for commonly kept pet millipedes; MicroCal directions for a calcium substrate like Milli Mix are one light shake per quart every 1–2 months. One 0.75 oz bottle ($8.99) a year is assumed. Low: none, relying on fresh Milli Mix. Josh's Frogs: MicroCal Calcium Substrate Supplement, 0.75 oz ($8.99; directions)
Leaf litter top-ups	$12	$0–$24	Millipedes eat leaf litter (Ward's Science, Josh's Frogs), so it needs replacing. Typical: four $3 Bugs in Cyberspace leaf bags a year. Low: collected leaves. High: eight bags. Bag counts are an estimate. Bugs in Cyberspace: Live pet millipedes (Narceus americanus $8, pale form $9; cork bark $6; leaf bag $3); Ward's Science: Millipedes Living Materials Care Sheet (USDA plant-pest status, care)
Electricity	$0	$0–$0	None: Josh's Frogs says room temperature is fine (65–78°F safe, low-to-mid 70s ideal), so no heat or lights are needed. Josh's Frogs: Giant Pink Foot Millipede 'Giant Orange', Narceus americanus ($14.99 each; care notes; ships FedEx, not to HI)
Illness and injury, per year
Unexpected costs (rare exotic-vet visit)	$0	$0–$118	LOW CONFIDENCE: no data on millipede health spending exist. Bugs in Cyberspace says the most common killer is lack of humidity and that millipedes have fewer molting problems than most bugs; those are fixed at home with water and substrate, and few vets see invertebrates. Typical owners spend nothing; replacing a lost millipede costs $33–$55 delivered. High: one exotic consultation at The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI), $118.39. Bugs in Cyberspace: Live Pet Millipede Care Sheet; The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing (avian, reptile & other exotics consultation from $118.39)

More insects and invertebrates by yearly cost

Common questions

How much does a giant millipede cost?

One millipede from an online invertebrate dealer (including live shipping): $33–$55. The bigger costs come after: about $70 to set up, about $170 for the whole first year, then about $60 a year.

How much does a giant millipede cost per year?

About $60 a year ($5 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $10 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $110 for a generous owner in a big city.

How much does a giant millipede cost over its lifetime?

About $600 over a 8-year life, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 16, 2026. Spot a wrong figure?