Emperor Scorpion Care Guide

Most Recent Common Ancestor

• The Eurypterid

Average Life Expectancy of Emperor Scorpions

• 5-8 years in the care of humans; lifespan is shorter in the wild

• The gender of the scorpion does not effect the life expectancy, both male and female live for about the same amount of time.

Genetic Variations:

• Habitat:

  • • Emperor scorpions are typically found in hot and humid forests (tropical; terrestrial) and burrow and live under forest debris.

• Size:

  • • average around 1 oz and around 8 inches in length

• Features:

  • • shiny black in color, sensory hairs on the 2 huge pincers in the front and on the long tail with a stinger at the end, has 4 legs, give off a fluorescent bluish green appearance under UV light, and are also venomous.

-Like many other arachnids emperor scorpions molt, shedding their exoskeleton in order to grow.

Domestication:

• Emperor scorpions have not been domesticated but have been through evolution.

  • • People tend to be afraid of scorpions because of their pincers and venomous stinger at the end of their tail. Emperor scorpions are not difficult to take care of, but an important requirement when keeping them as a pet is to provide them with vital heat and sufficient humidity.

Behaviors:

• Emperor scorpions are fairly docile and won't typically sting or pinch you unless it feels threatened or frightened. Used as a defense mechanism.

  • • Emperor scorpions will most likely flee if there is room for the scorpion to run but if not the scorpion will turn aggressive and defensive, having its stinger ready.

• Emperor scorpions usually do not like being handled nor can they be trained or tamed.

• Emperor scorpions are nocturnal, but can be active during the day if light levels are low.

• 
  

Socialization:

• Emperor scorpions can be kept communally as long as the scorpions being housed together are close to the same size.

• In the wild, emperor scorpions often live in groups of a dozen or more.

-Emperor scorpions are capable of learning and modifying their behavior based on captive conditions, but they are mainly guided by instinct and cannot be tamed or trained. Handling can be a stressful event for scorpions.

Emperor Scorpions fall under the category of Arachnids.

Anatomy:

• The body of the Emperor Scorpion has 2 parts (tagmata): the head and the abdomen.

• Emperor Scorpions have an exoskeleton, which allows them to molt that outer layer when they grow.

• The Emperor scorpion has the chelicera or mouth parts, a couple of pedipalps or claws with pincers at the end, 8 legs, the tail (metasoma), a venom deposit (telson) and the stinger (Aculeus)

  • • The mouth parts are used to help the scorpion eat their food.

    • The claws with pincers are used to capture and tear their prey. This can also be used for defense.

    • The legs have different segments, enabling the scorpion to walk and move around.

    • The tail has a venom deposit at the end, young scorpions may use the venom to capture their prey but this is mostly used as a defense mechanism against their predators, when they are frightened, or whatever they feel is a threat to them.

• There are sensory hairs around the pincers, tail, and telson.

  • • Scorpions have poor eye sight so the scorpions senses things such as vibrations in the air and on the ground with their sensory hairs.

Physiology:

• Burrowing; legs:

  • • The scorpion would use the first 2 or 3 pairs of their legs to excavate and lift sediment particles from the floor and walls to create a burrow.

• Hot & Humid climates:

  • • Emperor scorpions are nocturnal, meaning that they are active during the nigh time, avoiding the hot temperatures.

    • Their exoskeletons, hard body casing, gives them protection

    • Their low food an water needs also allows them to survive in harsh environments.

• Stingers:

  • • Their stingers have venom which is mostly used as a defense mechanism for when they are in danger or feel threaten or frightened.

    • Young scorpions may use their stingers to help them kill their prey.

• Sensory hairs:

  • • The sensory hairs on their body allows the scorpions to detect vibrations in the air or ground.

    • This counters for their poor eyesight .

• Powerful pincers:

  • • Scorpions use these pincers to hunt and capture their prey, also used to tear apart their prey.

• Respiratory System:

  • • Book lung; provides an extensive surface for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

      • • They have 4 pairs

• Circulatory System:

  • • Open circulatory system: this means that their blood doesn't move strictly within a closed set of vessels like ours does. In fact, arachnids don't have true blood, but have a fluid called hemolymph.

• Digestive System:

  • • The Scorpion then spits strong digestive juices onto its food, and eventually the digestive juices break the food down to a stew-like meal. The scorpion then sucks the stew into its mouth, and whatever can not be digested is thrown up by the scorpion.

Emperor Scorpions...

• are fluorescent, able to glow under UV light in the dark due to a chemical found in the hyaline layer of the scorpion's exoskeleton called the cuticle.

• have a shiny black coloring throughout the body with reddish coloring on the stinger and claws, but as they continue to keep molting the reddish hue gets darker.

• can reach lengths up to 8 inches. Emperor scorpions are the largest species of scorpions.

• have a venomous stinger at the end of their tail. Emperor scorpions' venom has maurocalcine, an animal toxin that targets an intracellular receptor. The sting can be use to subdue prey but adult scorpions rarely use this and instead use their claws to kill their prey. The venom is not considered as dangerous to humans but can still cause reactions.

• have large claws that are used to grab and crush or tear their prey apart.

Emperor scorpions are monogamous, breeding throughout the year, but only in warm temperatures. (usually give birth in the spring or summer, whereas living in the tropical areas give birth throughout the year)

• Gestation period of on average 9 months

• Can give birth about once a year

Emperor scorpions are viviparous, giving birth to live young instead of laying eggs.

• After the mating process and the egg is fertilized, the eggs are retained in the female's body, where the embryos are nourished until they are born.

Reproductive Attributes:

• The female can give birth to 10-12 young

• Not to often, the female is known to consume the male after mating (cannibalism)

• Gestation period lasts for about 9 months

• Females are more aggressive or hostile after giving birth

• Newborn scorpions depend on their mother for food and security because they are not strong enough to look out for themselves. The mother will carry their young on their back until they reach the age of independence and are able to take care of themselves

Reproductive behavior:

• • 1. • conduct elaborate mating rituals

       • male will grasp the female

       • sexual stinging and "kissing" before depositing the sperm

       • Sometimes the female scorpion may kill and consume the male after mating has occurred (like other arachnids)

       • Females are generally more aggressive after giving birth

Emperor scorpions are carnivores or insectivores. Adult emperor scorpions eat ground-dwelling insects and small animals; young eat fruit flies and small crickets.

Nutritional Needs:

Emperor scorpions feed on insects, such as crickets, mealworms, and waxworms, spiders, and even small mice and lizards.

• An adult scorpion should often eat 2-3 adult crickets a week

• If the owner is feeding their scorpion live food, then the owner must also have the knowledge and be able to keep the live food in adequate conditions. The live animal should access to their own food and water and their housing area should be kept in the appropriate temperature, bedding, and other conditions properly.

• Of course, WATER!!! Emperor scorpions should have a clean, shallow bowl of water at all times.

• Emperor scorpions do not need to take supplements but dusting their food with calcium is also fine for the scorpion.

-If your emperor scorpion is not eating or the owner if noticing that the scorpion is leaving left overs, then this could indicate that the owner is over feeding the scorpion, the scorpion is stressed (especially if the owner had just got or moved the scorpion), or the scorpion is sick. However, emperor scorpions will also fast at times.

Housing & Environmental Needs:

• Tank: The tank should be a least 10 gallons with a screen top and is tightly secure so that the scorpion cannot escape. The tank should also be able to retain heat effectively since the scorpion should be housed in a warm, humid environment.

• Substrate: The substrate should be 3-6 inches deep. It should be soft so that the scorpion can burrow and is absorbable. The substrate can be Coconut fiber, soil, peat, or vermiculite.

• Water: Water should be kept in a shallow bowl and be filled and cleaned regularly. Having a a shallow water bowl ensures that the scorpion will not drown if fallen into the bowl.

• Enrichment: To stimulate the scorpions' hunting behavior, every few days adding new leaf litter or new pieces of wood or stone will add additional textures, smells, and other options for hiding spots to their enclosure.

• Environmental spaces: Emperor scorpions are burrowers and likes to hide under rocks, logs/sticks, leaf litter, forest debris, and anything that they can hide under. These can also be used for the scorpion to climb.

Husbandry:

• Feeding Management: Adult scorpions should be fed 1-2 times per week, or about 3-6 adult crickets per week with calcium-dusted or gut-loaded insects. It is best to feed the scorpion(s) at night since they are nocturnal and more active at night.

• Temperature Control: The environment for the scorpion should be in temperatures that range around 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit. A heatmat can be placed in a certain part of the tank so that the scorpion can move to a warmer area and cooler areas when needed (but DO NOT cover the entire base of the tank with a heatmat). Keeping a thermometer by the tank is key to monitoring the tanks temperature.

• Humidity Control: Daily misting to keep the humidity up 75%

• Ventilation Needs: The tank should include ventilation panels in the roof/lid or walls to allow for some air movement, especially since the tank will be humid. This will prevent stale air from building up.

• Water Quality: The water for the scorpion should be kept in a shallow bowl.

• Cleaning: The tank should be striped of its substrate and cleaned out every 3-4 months (emperor scorpions are pretty clean animals). The tank should be wiped down, disinfected with scorpion-safe disinfectant, and substrate should be changed.

**Emperor Scorpions do not a routine medical exam. Many vet clinics do not even see them.**

A healthy scorpion will be active and alert as to a sick emperor scorpion refusing to eating, won't molt, and is lethargic.

Diseases:

All of these are not too common in Emperor scorpions but are health concerns for them...

• Trauma-induced damage to the exoskeleton

  • • Cuts that are bleeding from the scorpion can be sealed with a bit of clean plastic held in place by petroleum jelly (petroleum jelly alone may suffice also)

    • A scorpion that have lost hemolymph should be offered water to drink; water should help restore normal fluid levels.

• Shedding Problems

  • • Dry conditions can cause a scorpion to become trapped in its old exoskeleton, or retain pieces of it.

    • The scorpion's tank should be provided with damp moss and be kept extra moist when the scorpion sheds.

    • If the scorpion still has trouble or has some remaining pieces of its old exoskeleton then using forceps and misting the scorpion can be used to help remove those bits.

• Fungus

  • • Fungus is rarely a problem for emperor scorpions but fungal infections appear flat or fuzzy grey to white patches on the scorpion's exoskeleton.

    • Drying out the habitat or moving the scorpion to a drier environment is the best approach to helping the scorpion fight the infection.

• Mites

  • • Mites are harmless and just feed upon decaying matter in the tank. However, large populations can pose problems for when the scorpion is shedding.

    • Mites are best controlled by routinely removing dead food items and droppings.

    • Allowing the substrate to dry out a bit can help get rid of mites but this shouldn't be done when the scorpion is about to molt or give birth.

Dehydration is a common health concern for Emperor scorpion

• • If the scorpion is lethargic or has a shriveled appearance are signs that the scorpion is not getting enough water.

  • Increasing the humidity in its habitat usually helps this problem.