In order to grow centipedes have to molt. Pedelings molt about every 7 to 8 weeks, adults once or twice a year. Centipedes keep molting their entire life. When they're young the primary reason for molting is getting bigger but centipedes are also caplable of regenerating lost bodyparts. Days before molting centipedes stop eating and they also start to look darker and duller.

The actual molting process lasts 30 minutes up to several hours depending on size of the centipede. During molting the centipede gets spectacular colours which can be blue or green. Centipedes usually eat their molt to regain strenght.

The centipede has up to a couple of days to grow before it hardens up again. During that time the centipede is very soft and must not be touched. It is also a good idea to remove all feeder insects. They can damage and even kill the centipede because they are defenceless. On the following pics you can see what a roach can do to a freshly molted Scolopendra gigantea. The centipede died.