Heterometrus spp
Heterometrus sp.
Heterometrus spp make very good beginner scorpions. They are easy to keep and quite docile so the risk of a sting is minimal (there are however exceptions and you can get very agressive specimens). They are nearly identicle to pandinus spp. scorpions with regards to care but they are generally a bit more active. Although they are easy to keep this doesn't mean you can do it without thorough research.
There are two species of heterometrus which are readily available and generally make good beginners species. They are:
Heterometrus spinifer (Sometimes called the Asian forest scorpion)
Heterometrus laoticus (Sometimes called the Vietnam forest scorpion)
Heterometrus arevery hard to ID, there are few who can give a 100% ID just from pictures. It is therefore lucky that they require the same care.
Why do Heterometrus spp. make good beginner scorpions?
- They are large and impressive looking
- They are easy to keep and maintain
- They are generally quite handleable
- Any specialist equipment they require is cheap and readily available
General heterometrus spp. scorpion care
General heterometrus spp. scorpion care
Temperatures: Warm end of 30c, cool end of room temperature. Heat them via a heatmat taped to the side of the tank. Scorpions burrow to escape heat so if it is on the bottom of the tank the scorpion could easily cook itself.
Humidity: 80%+, achieve this by limiting ventilation and misting daily. It can't be too humid.
Vivarium size (young): A 1ft cube will house a few juveniles.
Vivarium size (adult): 2x1x1ft will house 1-3 adults.
Feeding: Offer live food once a week, so this by dropping 1-2 of the prey items in the tank per scorpion. Leave them in overnight and remove any that didn't get eaten the next day. Don't tear the vivarium apart looking for stray crickets, just if you see them wondering around get them. If you can't find the crickets then the scorpions probably can't and thus won't get stressed by them.
Please note, use the above only as a rough guide and a starting/reference point. There is alot more to keeping heterometrus sp. scorpions than that. For a more comprehensive care guide see our care sheets page.
heterometrus spp. scorpion shopping list
So, you've decided you want a heterometrus spp. scorpion, but what do you need to buy?
I've compiled a basic list of the bare essentials required to keep an heterometrus spp. scorpion. Anything else you can add yourself providing you make sure its perfectly safe (no sharp edges, free from bacteria, poisons, pests, etc).
- An enclosure. This can be as simple as DIY storage tub, an old aquarium with a new lid, a special plastic reptile tank (usually called something like plastic faunariums) or even a wooden vivarium. Make sure you limit the ventilation if using the latter.
- Coco-fibre or peat. These 2 are the best substrates available, get whichever is easiest for you to get hold of.
- Atleast 1 hide per scorpion, pieces of cork bark are ideal for this, as are rocks and reptile caves.
- A waterbowl, this can be anything from a coffee jar lid to a special reptile one. Make sure the scorpions can easily exit it and wherever possible put a few stones in it to reduce the risk of drowning.
- A heat mat.
- An on/off thermostat, either a temperature thermostat or a mat stat will do.
- Some polystyrene, this is optional but I like to use it. You put this behind the heatmat (so the heatmat is between the tank and the polystyrene) it means you get alot more heat out of the heatmat.
As I mentioned earlier they are the bare essentials, you can add more if you like.
Remember, if you can't afford the equipment you can't afford the pet.
Further reading
A very handy general reference book.