Prospects of breeding golden-headed centipedes? Techniques for breeding golden-headed centipedes? Costs of breeding golden-headed centipedes?
Before taking action, the golden-headed centipede will first wave its sensitive antennae to explore and search for prey. This is because the centipede's vision and hearing are very poor; it cannot see clearly from a distance but instead perceives vibrations. Once prey is discovered, the centipede will swiftly pounce, quickly clamping its venomous fangs onto the prey and injecting venom. It then uses several pairs of front legs to encircle the prey, rendering it immobile. After the prey has been paralyzed by the venom and lost its ability to resist, the centipede will choose a soft part of the prey’s body, tearing it with its large mandibles and slowly eating it.
Due to the centipede's fierce nature, during egg-laying and hatching, food should not be provided to prevent the centipede from eating both the food and the eggs. Centipedes have the habit of drinking water, so clean drinking water must be supplied when raising them artificially. The water can be placed in shallow dishes for free access or sprayed on mesh decorations within the breeding area.
In recent years, there has been a high demand for centipedes. Sales of centipedes are calculated by the number sold. Typically, an adult centipede sells for more than one yuan each, with high-quality and larger ones selling for around three yuan. However, the cost is relatively low, and the risk of breeding is not significant, making the profits from breeding quite promising.
Techniques for breeding centipedes:
Centipedes are relatively easy to raise. First, they do not require much space and can be raised almost anywhere. Second, the housing and tools required for breeding are simple, the feed is economical, and the investment is relatively small, allowing for flexible adjustments in input. Third, diseases are rare, and there are no major illnesses to worry about. Fourth, the breeding techniques are relatively simple and easy to master, and breeding centipedes does not pollute the environment.
Living habits of centipedes:
There are seven aspects to the living habits of centipedes. One of the biggest factors affecting centipedes is temperature. As cold-blooded animals, all their life activities are closely related to temperature. The most suitable temperature range for centipede growth and development is 25℃～32℃. When the temperature is between 11℃～15℃, the centipede's food searching decreases, and mating and egg-laying stop. When the temperature drops below 10℃, centipedes cease all activity, burrowing into loose soil (or nest soil), curling up, and entering hibernation. If the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius, centipedes will freeze to death. However, when the temperature rises to 33℃～35℃, due to water loss within their bodies, all their activities pause. If the temperature rises above 36℃, excessive water loss can cause the body to dry out and die. Each spring after the Awakening of Insects, centipedes become active again. With the gradual increase in temperature, centipedes gradually move to cooler shaded slopes or higher locations for activity. In late autumn, they migrate back to sunny slopes or warm places to prepare for winter.
The second factor is humidity. The most suitable air humidity for centipede life and development is 60%～70%, while the soil moisture content should be 10%～20%. Generally, the optimal summer soil moisture is 22%～25%, while in winter it is 8%～15%, and in spring and autumn, it is around 20%.
Thirdly, dietary habits. Although centipedes are not large in size, they are carnivorous animals. Centipedes are aggressive and enjoy hunting various insects and their larvae and eggs, such as crickets, spiders, earthworms, snails, locusts, scarab beetles, rice borer moths, and various fly and bee larvae and eggs. In seasons when insect numbers are low, they also eat juicy fruits like watermelon, cucumber, and apple, as well as tender grasses and vegetables. During artificial feeding, animal by-products are often given to centipedes.
Prospects of breeding golden-headed centipedes? Techniques for breeding golden-headed centipedes? Costs of breeding golden-headed centipedes?
Fourth, centipedes prefer group living. Although centipedes have a habit of killing their own kind, they prefer to live in groups of varying sizes. Members of the same group can coexist harmoniously, rarely engaging in fights that lead to cannibalism. If the habitat is too small and there are too many centipedes, older centipedes will automatically leave to find new habitats. Therefore, during breeding, separating them by size is unnecessary, simplifying management.
Fifth, centipedes are timid and easily startled: even slight disturbances can cause them to stop eating, flee from their nests, or curl up motionlessly. Female centipedes laying eggs will immediately stop if startled, and centipedes incubating eggs may eat their eggs if disturbed.
Sixth, molting. A significant feature of the centipede's body is its chitinous exoskeleton, which supports its body. However, the chitinous exoskeleton does not grow, so centipedes need to molt periodically to grow longer. Molting starts with the head and ends with the tail, taking approximately 4-5 minutes per segment and 2-3 hours for the entire process. A centipede needs to molt 11 times in its lifetime before becoming an adult.
During molting, it is essential to maintain quietness. Disturbances can prolong molting time and affect growth. Care should also be taken to protect against attacks from natural enemies like ants.
Seventh, centipedes prefer dark, damp environments but fear standing water. Wild centipedes mostly live in crevices on slopes, fields, and roadsides or in areas with dense vegetation. Due to their strong ability to burrow into crevices, care should be taken in management to prevent escape.
Additionally, centipedes fear light. They rest in their nests during the day and come out at night to hunt, mate, and eat. Their peak activity occurs between 8 PM and 12 AM, and they usually return to their nests to rest before 4 AM. It is difficult to see centipedes after sunrise. On rainy or windy days with winds exceeding six levels, centipedes do not leave their nests.
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