|
|
|
Emperor Scorpion
(Pandinus
imperator)
Habitat:
Rainforest
Diet: Carnivorous
Adult Size: 6-8
inches
Lifespan: 5-10
years
Native To: West
Africa |
|
Did
You Know:
-
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.
-
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.
-
The Emperor Scorpion will
detect the approach of prey
through vibrations. Adults
will typically kill prey
using their powerful claws
rather than stingers.
The material below is a general
guideline, and is not intended
to serve as your sole source of
pet care information. Visit a
veterinarian trained in caring
for reptiles and consult a broad
range of literature to ensure
that your pet receives adequate
care.
|
|
What
You Should Know About
Emperor Scorpions |
|
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 |
|
Enclosure:
Width Is More
Important Than Height
: |
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. |
|
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. |
|
Temperature:
They Like
It Hot: |
An Emperor Scorpion's
enclosure should be kept
at a
temperature of 75-85º Fahrenheit
during the day, and
slightly cooler (upper
70ºs) 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. |
|
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. |
|
Diet:
They Must Not Be Overfed: |
An adult Emperor
Scorpion can be fed 3-5
appropriately sized
gut-loaded crickets
twice a week. Juveniles
should be offered 3-5
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. |
|
A
Note About Gut Loading |
Feeding crickets a
nutritious diet will
pass on vital nutrients
to your reptile. When
reptiles eat these
insects they are able to
absorb the nutrients.
This is why it is
important to gut load
crickets at least 48
hours before offering
them to a reptile.
Commercial cricket foods
provide a convenient way
to gut load crickets.
(Always follow
manufacturer’s
directions.) Crickets
should also be provided
with water, preferably
in the form of oranges
or a commercial water
gel product designed
specifically to hydrate
feeder insects. Putting
a shallow dish of water
in the cricket holding
tank will result in
insects drowning and
promote the spread of
bacteria.
You can also create your
own gut-loading formula.
Our vet recommends a mix
of ground up dog food,
cereal and fresh greens
with oranges or a
commercial gel for
water. |
|
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
chlorine-free water,
and misting the
enclosure daily will
help maintain humidity
levels. Use a hygrometer
to measure humidity
levels. Always use water
that is free of chlorine
and heavy metals.
We recommend bottled
spring water or
unflavored bottled
drinking water.
Do not
use untreated tap water.
Distilled water must
also never be used,
since it lacks essential
minerals and can harm an
animal over time. |
|
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 stinger 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. |
|
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.
|
|
Recommended
Emperor Scorpion Supplies:
-
A 20-gallon enclosure
with a secure top
-
Hiding places in the
form of a log or cork
bark
-
A suitable substrate
-
A red light for night
viewing
-
A
under tank heat pad
-
A thermometer
-
A thermostat or rheostat
-
A hygrometer
-
A
spray mister
-
Long rubber-tipped
forceps
|
|
|
|
|