EMPEROR SCORPION  

  • Emperor Scorpions are quiet, clean, and easy to care for with an average lifespan of 6-8 years.
  • Adults average 5 to 8 inches with a large pair of pedipalps, or “claws”, but are relatively docile.
  • A sting from an Emperor Scorpion is about as painful as a bee sting, but it usually does not require medical attention (some people may experience anaphylactic shock, as with a bee sting, so taking a chance by handling isn’t recommended!).

Diet

In the wild, scorpions eat a variety of insects and sometimes small lizards. In captivity, they seem to do fine with a diet primarily of crickets supplemented with other insects such as mealworms. An adult emperor should be fed an adult cricket 2-3 times a week. The crickets should be fed a nutritious diet, or “gutload”, so that the nutritional value is passed on to the scorpion. Feed at night to replicate the conditions under which scorpions would naturally feed. A shallow dish of fresh water should also be provided at all times.

Housing  

It’s recommended to house Emperor Scorpions separately but they may be housed together with caution. A ten gallon tank is sufficient for housing one Emperor Scorpion, however if you wish to keep multiple scorpions together you’ll need a 20-30 gallon tank. Provide at least two hiding places per scorpion so they each have their own area and are less likely to fight.

Soil, moss, bark or peat are all good choices as a substrate. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s fairly deep, 3-6 inches, so your scorpion may burrow. Emperor Scorpions like high humidity so mist their enclosure daily; the substrate should be damp but never wet.

Emperor Scorpions are nocturnal and do not require UV lighting. You may use either a heat lamp or a heating mat to provide proper heat. Scorpions will regulate their own body temperature, so it’s suggested to keep one side of the tank cooler (around 70 degrees), and one side hot (around 95 degrees). Keeping two temperature guages, one on either side of the tank, will help you keep your scorpion at the proper temperature.

Handling & Care

Water dishes should be cleaned daily and any uneaten crickets need to be taken out weekly. Substrate tends to get moldy quickly because of daily misting, so regular cleaning will be needed. At least once a month all bedding should be thrown away, the cage wiped clean, and replaced with fresh new substrate.

Wash your hands with anti-bacterial soap after handling any animal.