Description
- Common Name: Egyptian Centipede
- Scientific Name: Scolopendra cingulata
- Locality/Morph: Rainbow
- Sex: Mixed
- Age: Mixed
- Source: Wild Caught
- Native Range: Southern Europe, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East (including Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Spain, Italy, and surrounding regions)
- Natural Habitat: Mediterranean and semi-arid environments; found under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and within shallow burrows in dry to moderately humid habitats
- Diet: Carnivorous—feeds on insects, spiders, other arthropods, and occasionally small vertebrates such as lizards or juvenile amphibians
- Basking Temperature: Not required – maintain 24–28 °C
- Ambient Temperature: 24–28 °C (night drop to ~20–22 °C)
- Average Adult Size: 20–25 cm total length
The Egyptian Centipede (Scolopendra cingulata) is a medium to large, highly defensive centipede species widely distributed across the Mediterranean region. It is typically dark brown to olive in coloration with lighter segment banding, giving a distinctly “ringed” appearance. Like all scolopendrids, it is fast, venomous, and a highly effective ambush predator.
This species is primarily nocturnal and spends much of the day hidden beneath cover or within shallow burrows. It actively hunts at night, relying on speed, sensory antennae, and powerful forcipules (venom claws) to subdue prey.
In captivity, a horizontally oriented enclosure with a moderately deep substrate is recommended. A soil or soil/leaf-litter mix works well, allowing for burrowing and secure hiding. Cork bark, flat stones, and other hides should be provided to reduce stress and replicate natural cover.
Humidity should be maintained at moderate levels (50–70%), with a slight gradient depending on locality variation. The substrate should be kept lightly moist in parts but never waterlogged. Good ventilation is essential to prevent mould and stagnant conditions.
Temperature should include a warm zone and a cooler gradient to allow thermoregulation. Stable conditions are preferred, and sudden fluctuations should be avoided.
Feeding consists of appropriately sized live prey such as crickets, roaches, mealworms, and other invertebrates. Feeding should occur 1–2 times per week depending on size and condition. Care must always be taken during maintenance due to the species’ speed and defensive nature.
Livestock Delivery:
Livestock is delivered in our own heated reptile courier vans. Delivery time from ordering will depend on your location and when we next have a van in your area, this will usually be a maximum of 2 weeks. You will receive a date and time slot by phone or email, so please ensure you enter these correctly at checkout. Delivery fee for livestock depends on location, prices start at £45. Livestock orders over £500 (+VAT) are delivered free of charge.
Livestock Sale Terms:
If multiple animals are in stock then not all will be pictured, so the photo above may not be exact animal available.
All prices are per individual unless otherwise stated. All livestock is subject to availability, whilst we try to keep the website as up to date as possible errors may happen, in this situation you will be contacted to arrange a refund/alternative.
Errors can happen with sexing and morph identification. Should this be discovered before leaving us you are entitled to a refund. After the animal leaves us it is the customers responsibility to inform us within 48 hours of the animals arrival. Failing to do so may lose the customers eligibility for a refund.
It is the customers responsibility to have the correct setup available and ready for the animal, if you need any advice please do get in touch. We have the right to request proof of setup at any time, failure to provide an image of an appropriate setup or any image at all, may result in a full order cancellation and refund.
Guarantee for all inverts & amphibians is 24 hours. All other livestock is 48 hours. If issues/concerns are notified upon delivery, then this may be extended. All health related queries will be subject to a full investigation should an issue arise. Failing to provide us with the information we request may void any form of guarantee. If we find reason from the information that its injury or death was caused by negligence or incorrect husbandry then the guarantee may be void. Should death or abnormalities occur then you must inform us as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that an animal passes away please photograph the dead body and freeze until you have heard from us. If death or illness occurs after 7 days, and no health issues were reported, then Ridgeway will not be held responsible.
We have the right to refuse any sale, refund or guarantee at any time if we feel it is necessary.
Livestock sales are for customers aged 18+, if under this age you must have prior parent permission. If we have any reason to suspect this is not the case we will contact you before the animal is released.
When purchasing an animal from us you automatically agree to these terms of sale.
