Hello, 

I live upcountry, here there are two dangerous animals, cobras and centipedes

for two years , I have a composter, and I take care of it every two-three days, everything ok 

 

now, I have many snails, and I have read they are good composters

 

two days ago, for the first time, I saw a centipede ,  it went away very fast : it was ON the compost ( vegetables, fruits etc ) 

Do you think there are some inside the compost, because I put my naked hands to see how is humidity ?

 

It's better  now I put gloves because it makes me nervous  ; for the future, how can I get rid of centipedes in my compost, I don't like to have them when I open the composter ?

thank you 

Use an insertion thermometer. Keep it moist and monitor the temperature.

I have a tumble type composter. Once a week I add an activation agent, water it in well, turn the drum and forget about it. Never bother to check humidity or temperature.

Centipedes may be present anywhere where there is dark damp spaces with decomposing organic matter and the smaller critters they feed on. So yes be careful and disturb the material with a probe of some kind, a shovel or digging fork before you put your hands in anywhere that you can't see.   "it went away very fast" is a key observation. It won't likely go after you, it will go the other way if you give it a chance. I compost and garden and see them frequently but have never been bitten.  

Thank you for your message. I know centipedes and I know that they only think about running away. I haven't been bitten either, but I'm now very careful before putting my hand in.

Centipede, like cobras, are just a fact of life here in Thailand.  Your compost pile has nothing to do with the critter other than being warm, moist, and dark.