If you are deciding between the two, the key difference is simple: millipedes are detritivores suited to leaf-litter and substrate-based setups, while centipedes are predatory hunters that need live prey. Their diet and enclosure style are the main things that set them apart.

If you are new to millipedes, you may also find our Millipede Behaviour, Biology & Handling Guide helpful, along with our wider Millipede Behaviour & Biology Guides.

Millipedes vs centipedes: the key differences

The easiest visual clue is body shape. Millipedes are usually rounded or cylindrical, while centipedes are flatter and more streamlined. Leg arrangement is another clear difference: millipedes have two pairs of legs on most trunk segments, while centipedes have one pair per segment.

Feeding is the more important practical divide. Millipedes feed on decaying leaves, rotting wood and other organic material linked to decomposition. Centipedes are predators and need appropriately sized live prey. That difference also shapes the type of enclosure each animal needs.

A millipede setup is usually built around deep substrate, humidity and leaf litter, while a centipede enclosure needs to suit an animal that hunts and feeds very differently. For millipedes, that often means space to burrow, access to decomposing material and a stable, moist environment. Many species spend much of their time hidden below the surface, which is normal behaviour rather than a sign of a problem.

Centipedes, by contrast, are more overtly predatory and defensive. Their movement, body shape and feeding response all reflect an animal designed to hunt rather than graze on organic matter.

Which differences matter most

For keepers, diet and enclosure style matter far more than appearance alone. If you want a detritivore that lives in leaf litter and substrate, a millipede is the better fit. If you want a predator that requires live prey, a centipede is the clearer choice.

Millipedes are often easier for beginners to match to a naturalistic setup. They do not need live feeders, and their care is usually built around a suitable substrate mix, humidity and decaying plant material. They can be active, but they are also naturally secretive, so periods out of sight are normal.

Centipedes suit keepers who specifically want to manage a predatory invertebrate and are comfortable with live feeding. They are not simply a more active millipede; they are adapted to a different lifestyle altogether.

For readers still learning the basics of millipede keeping, our answers to Are Millipedes Insects?, Do Millipedes Bite? and Are Millipedes Poisonous or Venomous? are useful next reads.

Who each option may suit

Millipedes may suit you if you want:

• a detritivore that eats decaying plant material rather than live prey
• a calmer invertebrate with burrowing and substrate-focused behaviour
• an enclosure built around deep substrate, humidity and leaf litter
• an animal where hidden periods are normal and expected
• a straightforward introduction to invertebrate keeping

Centipedes may suit you if you want:

• a predatory invertebrate with a different feeding strategy
• a flatter, faster-moving animal adapted for hunting
• a keeper experience centred on live prey and defensive behaviour
• an animal that is fundamentally unlike a millipede in care and lifestyle

The practical takeaway is straightforward: choose a millipede if you want a detritivore for a substrate-based setup, or choose a centipede if you want a predator and are prepared for live feeding.