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Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava — Piceoflava Centipede | “Piece of Lava”The name piceoflava translates roughly to “pitch-black and golden” — and this centipede lives up to every syllable. Scolopendra subspinipes piceoflava, affectionately nicknamed the “Piece of Lava” centipede in the hobby, is a visually explosive subspecies of the giant Vietnamese centipede complex. Bold black banding alternates with rich, warm gold across the body segments. The legs are a clean, bright golden-yellow. And anchoring the whole look is a deep, dark red head that ties the color palette together like something pulled straight from a volcano.The nickname writes itself — and once you see one, you’ll never forget it.Why Collectors Love This Species Gold and black banding — bold, high-contrast alternating bands of rich gold and deep black across the full body length; one of the most graphically striking color patterns in the centipede hobby Golden legs — bright, warm golden-yellow legs that pop against the dark banding and complement the overall lava-like color palette Dark red head — a deep, dark crimson-red head that anchors the tri-color look and gives the animal a distinctly menacing, volcanic appearance The “Piece of Lava” — the hobby nickname is earned; this centipede genuinely looks like a living piece of molten rock Named subspecies — a formally recognized subspecies of Scolopendra subspinipes; a taxonomically distinct and collectible specimen Impressive size — a large, robust giant centipede with substantial enclosure presence Care Overview Origin: Old World — Southeast Asia; part of the Scolopendra subspinipes complex Enclosure: Secure terrestrial setup with escape-proof lid; deep substrate (4–6") with cork bark or flat rock hides Temperature: 76–86°F Humidity: Moderate to high — 70–80%; keep one side of substrate slightly moist Diet: Large crickets, roaches, and other appropriately sized prey; aggressive and enthusiastic feeder Venom: ⚠️ Like all large Old World Scolopendra, this species possesses medically significant venom. Bites are extremely painful and can cause intense localized pain, severe swelling, and systemic symptoms. Never handle — use long tongs for all maintenance without exception. Experience Level: Advanced — for experienced invertebrate keepers only Live Arrival GuaranteeEvery specimen ships with our Live Arrival Guarantee. In the unlikely event of a DOA, photo and video documentation of the unopened or just-opened package is required to process a claim. Contact us immediately upon receipt.

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