I've many horror stories about emperor scorpions ending up dead, injured, or in your cornflakes when you pour 'em. So, I'm here to help all who wish to purchase and care for a big, black emperor.
*Handling Tips*
I know that this isn't the brightest idea on Earth, but people have tried to do it. Most of the time, when someone approaches their big, black bug, they either can't get close enough to even pick them up, or do it wrong and they get hurt, or the scorpion does.
DO NOT EVER pick a scorpion up by the telson (tail if you couldn't have guessed it...
) , because contrary to their bulky appearance, Emps are surprisingly limber. They can bend their tail and pinch you really hard, you end up dropping the king and he dies. Another wrong tactic is to go in from the front. BAD IDEA. He will see you as a treat and will pinch and sting you at the SAME TIME!!!
--Good Tactic--
Scoop them up from either side, and they will just step up onto your hand. They will no hurt the ground they walk on.
*Housing Help*
Quick lesson on housing scorpions. They can't climb glass or smooth plastic like tarantulas can, but a lid helps. I have a plastic faunarium with no climbing branches in it for the one I'm getting. These Emperor scorpions often live their entire life on the ground, almost never climbing, but always burrow. I got a little coconut half-shell for a burrow substitute.
You should keep them on moss, potting soil, coconut bark, ect. Sand is for deserts, or fish tanks. These scorps in particular come from the congo (central, west Africa) and need a ton 'o humidity. In other words, a Hygrometer will help here. 75% - 80% humidity.
Temperature is important too, again jungle= hot + wet. 75F - 80F or about as much as a betta.
Heating pads help with this.
*Feeding help*
NO CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS!!! They make the exoskeleton TOO hard and cause molting complications and death.Staple diet can consist of crickets, at least one per week.
They need water too. About 1/4 inch of water in a bowl in the corner on the cold side.
*Misc*
Some people say that it's ok to house these little monsters communally, bad idea unless you want to watch them fight in the tiny 5 gallon you got for them. I only house millipedes, rhinoceres beetles, and hissing roaches together because they WILL NOT eat each other!
*Handling Tips*
I know that this isn't the brightest idea on Earth, but people have tried to do it. Most of the time, when someone approaches their big, black bug, they either can't get close enough to even pick them up, or do it wrong and they get hurt, or the scorpion does.
DO NOT EVER pick a scorpion up by the telson (tail if you couldn't have guessed it...
) , because contrary to their bulky appearance, Emps are surprisingly limber. They can bend their tail and pinch you really hard, you end up dropping the king and he dies. Another wrong tactic is to go in from the front. BAD IDEA. He will see you as a treat and will pinch and sting you at the SAME TIME!!! --Good Tactic--
Scoop them up from either side, and they will just step up onto your hand. They will no hurt the ground they walk on.
*Housing Help*
Quick lesson on housing scorpions. They can't climb glass or smooth plastic like tarantulas can, but a lid helps. I have a plastic faunarium with no climbing branches in it for the one I'm getting. These Emperor scorpions often live their entire life on the ground, almost never climbing, but always burrow. I got a little coconut half-shell for a burrow substitute.
You should keep them on moss, potting soil, coconut bark, ect. Sand is for deserts, or fish tanks. These scorps in particular come from the congo (central, west Africa) and need a ton 'o humidity. In other words, a Hygrometer will help here. 75% - 80% humidity.
Temperature is important too, again jungle= hot + wet. 75F - 80F or about as much as a betta.
Heating pads help with this.
*Feeding help*
NO CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS!!! They make the exoskeleton TOO hard and cause molting complications and death.Staple diet can consist of crickets, at least one per week.
They need water too. About 1/4 inch of water in a bowl in the corner on the cold side.
*Misc*
Some people say that it's ok to house these little monsters communally, bad idea unless you want to watch them fight in the tiny 5 gallon you got for them. I only house millipedes, rhinoceres beetles, and hissing roaches together because they WILL NOT eat each other!
