Care for Emperor Scorpions

The emperor scorpion (Pandinus imperator) is a species of scorpion native to Africa. One of the largest species of scorpion in the world, the adult emperor scorpions average about 8 inches (20 cm) in length. Known for being docile and calm, and tolerant of caregiver's mistakes, emperor scorpions are very interesting animals, and can make for a great pet for a beginner branching out into arachnid pets.

Steps

1. Provide suitable housing. Keep your scorpion in a well-ventilated glass or plastic tank with a secure lid. The tank size should measure about 30cm x 20cm x 10cm (11.8" x 8.8" x 3.9cm or a 5 to 20 gallon tank). The following is essential:
   • Install a heat mat. Or a red or non-UV black heat lamp. Never use UV on an Emperor Scorpion as it causes stress and death.
   • Emperor scorpions need a day time temperature of around 29ºC/85ºF and a night time low of 23ºC/75ºF. Use a thermometer or a thermostat to measure the temperatures in the tank. You can also keep a warm and cool end if you do not want day/night time temperatures.
   • Cover the floor with a thick layer (at least 4" deep) of substrate such as cocoa fiber, Use Coco Peat Grow Bags for Gardening, peat/vermiculite, or cork bark. The substrate should be kept moist. Moss is also helpful but don't smother the base with it as being a rainforest burrower, this scorpion needs to be able to dig holes for hiding. The more the substrate, the happier your scorpion will be to burrow in.
   • Provide plenty of obstacles such as bark and rocks for your scorpion to climb, burrow and hide in. Suitable shelters include cork bark, half a log, a flower pot, a clean dark container (prefer opaque glass over plastic as it won't off-gas), or ceramic items with arachnid safe or no glazes.
   • Humidity should be high, 60-70%, or even above 75%. The humidity level can be checked with a hygrometer.
2. Handle your scorpion with great care, if at all. It's recommended that you don't handle your scorpion, as he can sting and bite.
   • Whenever you need to move him, coax him into a ventilated container such as a clean plastic food container that can be closed easily once the scorpion enters it.
   • Ensure that it has holes poked in the lid and sides for air ventilation.
   • Alternatively, use your fingers to gently pick him up, just below the sting. Do NOT do this with tweezers or tongs as you may hurt your scorpion trying.
3. You can keep Emperor scorpions together, but make sure they're all provided for. Emperor scorpions are NOT social animals - they prefer to live alone rather than living in groups. Make sure there are plenty of hiding places as they may become territorial. Emperor scorpions can be housed together, but they enjoy their personal space much like we humans do. They merely tolerate each other.
   • Scorpions may eat one another, but keeping an adequate amount of food in their tank should prevent that from happening. Know that it's also not uncommon for several scorpions to fight over the same insect if they're kept together.
4. Feed your scorpion a healthy diet. Feed your scorpion live crickets, locusts, and mealworms. For baby scorpions, feed them pinhead crickets and other small insects.
   • The insects themselves should be fed beforehand with a nutrient rich mixture available from pet shops (this is known as "gut-loading").
   • Use tongs to feed your scorpion one insect at a time. He may eat 2 or 3 at a time, or refuse them altogether. Note that scorpions don't eat every day and sometimes fast for a week or more, so try again another time if this happens. (In fact, adult scorpions molt once or twice a year and don't eat before and after molting.)
   • Scorpions drink a lot of water, so make sure it is available every day. Do NOT use silica gel, or soak cotton wool in bottled water and place it in a small dish for your scorpion to drink from. This can be very harmful for your scorpion, and may even result in its death. Ensure your water dish is shallow and your scorpion can easily get in and out of it. If it's too deep, you may put small rocks inside.
   • Keeping live crickets in the tank will never hurt your scorpions. Your scorpions have a very strong exoskeleton that will protect them from the vast majority of predators. They can however harm your scorpion if it's molting.
5. Be sure your scorpion is getting adequate exercise. Scorpions will get any exercise they need from within their enclosure. If your scorpion appears to not be exercising, or is moving around too much, contact your local vet or the animal store from where you obtained your scorpion.
   • Don't be alarmed if your scorpion is hiding all day, Emperor Scorpions are nocturnal and will move around a lot at night.
6. Clean your scorpion's home regularly. Scorpions don't make much mess, but any food remains should be removed. Change the substrate and clean and disinfect the tank every 3 or 4 months using an arachnid-friendly disinfectant.
7. Keep your scorpion healthy. Your scorpion should have few health problems if kept in the right conditions.
   • If the scorpion is overheated, he will become very active, may appear to sting himself and roll over on his back.
   • If he's too cold, he won't eat.
   • Don't keep Make Your Own Bug Collection in the tank if they're not being eaten, as your scorpion may be bitten by his prey.

Tips

• Emperor scorpions love to climb, so you can add some short branches to stimulate interest.
• If you wish to breed them it pays to separate male and female , also when you put them together increase the humidity, make sure there's a flat surface for mating .
• Emperor scorpions are the scorpions often seen in films; although their size makes them appear scary, they're generally docile and can be used around actors to good effect!
• They bite really hard, but aren't venomous. You should still try to go to the doctor.
• The second pair of appendages, or claw-like extensions of the scorpion are known as "pedipalps". All arachnids have pedipalps; in scorpions, they are used as weapons.
• The emperor scorpion originates from West Africa, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.

Warnings

• Keep emperor scorpions away from drafts.
• Emperor scorpions can live for about 9-12 years; be sure you're ready for this commitment.
• Avoid handling your scorpion as it may sting or pinch. The pinch will sure hurt because Emperor scorpions have one of the biggest and strongest claws. Emperor's scorpions stings can be similar to a bee's or a hornet's sting (as its poison is very mild) but it may hurt. The chances of being allergic to the venom is very rare. If symptoms worsen after a sting, consult your doctor.
• Scorpions don't like bright lights, so keep the tank out of direct sunlight and away from radiators. This species is especially vulnerable to UV light and too much exposure will stress the scorpion, leading to its death.
• While this scorpion does not tend to be aggressive, it can move quickly!

Things You'll Need

• Suitable tank
• Substrate material
• Live insect tank and bug food
• Tongs or tweezers, plastic container with air holes
• Rocks, logs, etc., to provide hiding space and interest for the scorpion
• Heat pad, hygrometer, thermostat, thermometer
• Arachnid-friendly cleaning product and wipes, scoop

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Sources and Citations

• VideoJug, http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-care-for-emperor-scorpions - Original source of article information. Shared with permission.
• ReptileExpert Emperor scorpion care sheet http://www.reptileexpert.org/emperor-scorpion-care/

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• Identify Spiders
• Catch a Spider
• Identify a Barn Spider
• Keep Spiders As Pets
• Identify a Wolf Spider
• Identify a Brazilian Wandering Spider
• Identify a Banana Spider
• Identify a Brown Recluse
• Identify a Tarantula Spider

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