Small centipedes under flowerpots?

Question

If I lift up a flower pot I can see a lot of small 1.5inch or smaller centipedes

What are these called? They like to burrow in the soil

They're red, really slim and about 1.5 inches or smaller

I've always wanted to know what these are?

How long do they grow?

Can they be kept as pets?

What do they eat?

Answer 1

The normal variety grow to about 3 inches though the giant variety can grow up to 8 inches. I think the ones you are talking about are the normal variety. They eat wood lice and other leaf litter insects. They like dark and moist places. You can keep them as pets but don't handle with bare hands as they can deliver a nasty sting that can cause intense swelling and pain due to the mild venom. One of the large ones was sitting in my dad's shoe and he had swelling and pain for a week, like someone was pricking him with a needle constantly. So, I'd generally avoid them if possible.  

Answer 2

You  might find some information in Wikipedia. They eat things that live in the dirt. They may be interesting to watch if you're into that sort of thing, but their stings can be painful.