Melopoeus longipes — Fact Sheet

Melopoeus longipes · Melopoeus longipes

📋 At a glance

🏠 Enclosure

• Secure fossorial enclosure; no routine handling
• Adult setup: about 30 x 30 x 45 cm with 20-25 cm or more of compactable substrate
• Provide starter burrow, water dish, ventilation, and secure service openings
• Avoid heavy decor that can collapse into the burrow

🪨 Enclosure furniture

• At least 20-25 cm of compacted soil/coco substrate that can support a deep tunnel
• Starter burrow with stable cork or bark; no heavy decor above the tunnel
• Water dish and service point positioned away from the burrow entrance where possible
• Fill most of the enclosure height with substrate to keep fall distance low

💡 Lighting

• No UVB or dedicated basking lamp required
• Use indirect room light; bright lamps can overheat the surface and dry the upper substrate
• Photoperiod: 10-12 h ambient light; no night light

🌡️ Temperature

• Warm zone: 22-27 °C
• Cooler area: 20-23 °C
• Night: 20-23 °C

💧 Humidity & Water

• Water dish always available for juveniles and adults
• Keep lower substrate lightly moist, not saturated
• Surface can dry somewhat between water additions
• Never flood the burrow

🪳 Feeding

• Feed crickets, roaches, locusts where available, and occasional worms
• Adults usually eat every 7-14 days
• Drop prey near the burrow entrance and remove uneaten prey

🩺 Warning Signs

• Collapsed burrow, exposed surface sitting, shrinking abdomen, weak movement, mold, or failed molt