Large, vicious centipedes are found in almost every warm part of the world. Some grow to nearly 6 inches long.

Centipedes have painful and sometimes poisonous bites and do not make suitable pets. However if you are determined to keep one as a pet, they should be housed in a plastic vivarium, but make sure that the lid fits properly and the cage is secure. Place some sand or soil in the cage and provide something for the centipede to hide under.

Centipedes are cannibalistic, so house them separately, even if they are of the same species.

Centipedes are fast moving and very difficult to recapture if they escape. They are predatory and require a diet of small insects, such as crickets.