Centrolobus splendidus is a small, vividly coloured “red fire” millipede originating from southern Africa, particularly Mozambique and parts of South Africa. Its body shows deep red tones with contrasting orange legs, making it one of the more striking but still manageable species for hobbyists.
 
In the wild, it lives on forest floors rich in leaf litter and decaying wood, and this translates directly into its husbandry needs. A substrate of rotting wood, leaf litter, and a moisture‑retentive base (such as coir mixed with decomposed hardwood) keeps them thriving. They prefer warm, humid conditions—roughly 22–24 °C with high humidity—and do not require direct heating unless the room is unusually cool.
 
They are peaceful, social millipedes that can be kept in groups, feeding on decaying plant matter, supplemented with vegetables and a calcium source. Their modest adult size (around 7–9 cm) makes them suitable for medium enclosures, and with stable humidity and plenty of leaf litter, they are generally easy to maintain and often breed readily in captivity.