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Emperor
Scorpion
(Pandinus imperator)
Habitat:
Rainforest
Diet: Carnivorous
Adult Size: 6-10 inches
Lifespan: 5-10 years
Native To: West Africa |
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Did
You Know:
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A female Emperor Scorpion
will give birth to up to 90
offspring. Newborn
scorpions are soft and
white. They will ride around
on their mother's back until
their first molt.
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They must "predigest" their
food, before they eat it.
Enzymes secreted by the
Emperor Scorpion on to the
prey animal will start the
digestive process before the
food is consumed.
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The Emperor Scorpion will
detect the approach of prey
through vibrations. Adults
will typically kill prey
using their powerful claws
rather than stingers.
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What
You Should Know About
Emperor Scorpions |
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The Basics: |
This species is also
known as the Black
Emperor Scorpion,
because of its dark
coloration, which is
typically blue/black,
but can also be
brown/black. It has
broad claws that are
somewhat hairy and
bumpy. The claws and
stinger can be red
colored. The Emperor
Scorpion is covered by
an external skeleton
(exoskeleton). As it
grows, an Emperor
Scorpion will shed its
external skeleton
several times.
Typically, it will
become darker colored
with each shed. This is
a relatively docile
nocturnal animal that is
sensitive to light. In
nature it spends most of
its time under rocks or
in burrows. A hardy
animal, it is relatively
easy to care for as a
pet. Care must be taken
to ensure that every
animal called an
"Emperor Scorpion" is in
fact an Emperor
Scorpion. Other
scorpions
such as the large, black
Androctonuc bicolor,
resemble the Emperor
Scorpion, but they have
a dangerously toxic
sting that causes
severe, possibly fatal
reactions |
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Enclosure:
Width Is More
Important Than Height
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A 20-gallon tank can
house three Emperor
Scorpions. The width of
the tank is more
important that the
height, but the tank
should be at least three
times as tall as the
scorpion. The tank cover
must be secure and tight
fitting, since scorpions
will use their powerful
claws to pull themselves
up over the edge of an
enclosure if they're
given the opportunity. A
screen top works well
since it provides
ventilation. Rocks, cork
and logs can be provided
for hiding places, but
enough
open space should be
left for burrowing.
Since scorpions react
poorly to bright light,
the enclosure should not
be kept in an area that
gets a great deal of
sunlight. |
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Substrate:
They Need To
Burrow: |
Having ample opportunity
to burrow is critically
important to the well
being of Emperor
Scorpions. The bottom of
their enclosures should
be covered with 4-5
inches of commercial
sterilized potting soil
mixed with non-aromatic
bark. The substrate must
be kept slightly damp to
help maintain high
humidity levels. Emperor
Scorpions will burrow in
this substrate. The
substrate should be
inspected daily,
so waste or debris can
be removed. It must be
changed once a month. |
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Temperature:
They Like
It Hot: |
An Emperor Scorpion's
enclosure should be kept
at a
temperature of 80-90
degrees Fahrenheit
during the day, and
slightly cooler (upper
70s) at night. An under
tank heater should be
positioned under a
section of the tank to
provide
a thermal gradient of
warmer and cooler areas.
Always follow
manufacturer’s
instructions carefully
when using
heat-producing products.
Since maintaining the
proper
temperature is so
critical to the health
of an Emperor Scorpion,
it should never be
guessed. A thermometer
should be placed about
two inches over the
surface of the
substrate in the warm
and cool area. |
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Lighting:
They Should
Not Be Overexposed To
Direct Light: |
Emperor Scorpions should
never be kept in lighted
enclosures, since this
will cause stress. A low
wattage red night lamp
can be used to observe
these nocturnal animals
in the evening. (Follow
manufacturer's
directions.) They do not
need exposure to high
UVB light. |
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Diet:
They Must Not Be Overfed: |
An adult Emperor
Scorpion can be fed five
gut-loaded
crickets twice a week,
and a juvenile should
receive smaller portions
of pinhead crickets
daily. Any insects not
taken within two hours
should be removed from
the enclosure.
Caterpillars and other
large insects can also
be offered to adults, as
can a feeder pinkie
mouse
(once every 2-3 months).
Overfeeding poses a
health risk to captive
Emperor Scorpions, and
must be avoided. |
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Water
& Humidity: |
High humidity levels are
essential to the health
of Emperor Scorpions,
especially during
molting. A humidity
level that's too high or
too low can cause
molting problems, which
are one of the most
common causes of death
among captive Emperor
Scorpions. It is
essential that humidity
levels inside the
Emperor Scorpion's
enclosure be maintained
at around 75-80 percent.
(If there is
condensation on the
enclosure's sides, the
humidity levels are too
high. Providing a
shallow dish of water,
and misting the
enclosure daily will
help maintain humidity
levels. Use a hygrometer
to measure humidity
levels. |
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How to Handle An Emperor
Scorpion:
An Emperor Scorpion should
not be lifted by hand, since its
sting can cause a bad
reaction. When an Emperor
Scorpion must be moved it should
be lifted with long (12-inch) rubber-tipped forceps. Use
the forceps to grasp the
scorpion just below the sting
and place it in a secure and
deep container. Scorpions are
very agile, so grasping one too
high up on the body, might allow
it to maneuver itself for a
sting. The container should
be three times as deep as the
scorpion is tall to prevent it
from climbing up into position
to strike. |
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Look Out For This:
Although the Emperor Scorpion is
considered nonaggressive, and
the
venom ejected from its stingers
is generally not harmful to
humans, it
must be considered dangerous to
handle. It should never be
picked up
by hand. People who have an
adverse reaction to bee and wasp
stings,
are likely to be similarly
affected by a scorpion sting,
and so should not
keep this animal as a pet.
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Recommended
Emperor Scorpion Supplies:
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A 20-gallon enclosure
with a secure top
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Hiding places in the
form of a log or cork
bark
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A suitable substrate
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A red light for night
viewing
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A
under tank heat pad
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A thermometer
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A thermostat or rheostat
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A hygrometer
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A
spray mister
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Long rubber-tipped
forceps

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