What Are The Best Beginner Scorpion Species To Keep?

The best beginner species to keep are those from the following genera:

• Heterometrus
• Pandinus
• Pandinopsis
• Hadrurus
• Smeringurus
• Scorpio
• Paravaejovis

We always recommend new scorpion keepers buy a sub-adult or adult scorpion, as they are less sensitive to mistakes a beginner hobbyist may make.

What Should I Do Before I Buy My First Scorpion?

Before buying any scorpion, make sure you pick a beginner friendly species; this is basically any species that does not have medically significant venom - there is a list above with genera that are beginner friendly.

Once you have decided on a species, you need to read up on how to house and care for the scorpion. Luckily, we have you covered with our care guides.

After you have read up on your chosen scorpion's care, you need to purchase necessary items such as:

• An enclosure (with a lid, otherwise your scorpion can escape - scorpions are known to be escape artists)
• Substrate
• Hides (It's always best to have multiple hides, or at least create hiding spots using plants or create burrows)
• Heating equipment (Heat bulb, thermostat, fixture for heat bulb). We do not recommend heat mats as they do not provide adequate temperatures, if you have no other option though, ensure the heat mat is placed on the side and not the bottom of the enclosure as scorpions burrow to escape the heat.
• Food

Once you have purchased these items, you need to setup the enclosure.

I've Just Bought My First Scorpion, What Should I Do?

So, you have followed the above steps and have purchased your first scorpion. Here's the timeline of what you should do:

1. Within 3 hours of your scorpion's arrival, turn on your heating equipment. It normally doesn't take long for your enclosure to get to the desired temperature, however 3 hours will ensure even the slowest of heat bulbs reach the necessary temperatures. If it is a species that likes humidity, such as a Heterometrus species (Asian Forest Scorpion), make sure you provide enough humidity before introducing it to the enclosure.
2. Once you have received your scorpion, unbox it and introduce it into the enclosure. We recommend leaving it alone for a few days before attempting to feed as the scorpion could be under a lot of stress with being in transit and being in a new environment.
3. After 3-4 days, attempt feeding. Your scorpion may eat, it may not. If it does not eat, wait another few days before offering again. After the second attempt, whether successful or unsuccessful, offer food once per week.
4. At this point, just continue following the care guide.

Should I Handle My Scorpions?

No, we do not recommend handling your scorpions. They do not form connections with humans, and do not like to play unlike cats and dogs. Handling your scorpion can pose risks, to your scorpion and yourself, as well as stress out the scorpion. An exception to this, would be handling a non-medically significant species quickly when rehousing.

My Scorpion Has Escaped, What Should I Do?

So, you can't find your scorpion in your enclosure - here is what to do:

First, grab a UV torch and thoroughly check the enclosure. Remove any hides and decor (except live plants), make sure you check these items when removing them in case your scorpion is hiding on the underside of the decor/hides. 

Move the substrate around, carefully, and search to the bottom of your enclosure. We recommend using something such as a plastic spoon to ensure you do not get stung incase your scorpion has just burrowed in the substrate. 

If you have a background that has spaces for wires, such as the Exo Terra ones, make sure you check these spaces as scorpions can often get stuck behind these. We always recommend removing/replacing any backgrounds that are not flush against the rear of your enclosure. If you have found your scorpion, place back any decor and hides you have removed.

If your scorpion definitely isn't in your enclosure, here is what to do:

Search your house, starting from the room your scorpion was kept in. Use a UV torch to help with this.

Check dark spaces, such as under furniture, appliances, enclosures (if they are raised, such as Exo Terra enclosures), any cracks in your walls if there are any, in any footware if you have any laying around, sinks, toilets, basically everywhere! If the escapee is a semi-arboreal/arboreal species, make sure you check all of your walls and ceilings. Ensure any other pets, such as cats and dogs, have not decided to eat your scorpion.

If the escapee is a dangerous species, please let your local/surrounding area's paramedics and hospitals know that this has happened. This is to ensure people's safety, envenomations are possible in this scenario. Provide them with a photo of the species, the scientific and common names, and as much information about the potential side effects as you possibly can. This is overruled if the species is endemic to your area, as they will already have precautions in place, as well as have the necessary training to deal with this scenario.

My Scorpion Isn't Eating, What Should I Do?

First, if your scorpion is visibly gravid or pre-moult it will likely not want to eat. If it is not gravid/pre-moult, read below.

If your scorpion doesn't eat, try a different prey-item. If it still does not eat, or if you do not have any other feeder insects available, offer food according to schedule (you will find this on the scorpion's care guide). Ensure that your temperatures are correct to increase your scorpion's metabolism.

Scorpions can go ages without food, we are talking many months up to a year depending on the species and it's size. Do not stress if it does not eat.

Do Scorpions Need Water-Bowls?

There is a common misconception in the scorpion hobby that scorpions need water-bowls. This is not true, as scorpions get the majority of their water intake from their prey. For species that live in humid conditions, they will drink from the side of their enclosure if they feel like it. For arid species, they will occasionally drink from the side of their enclosure when you do the monthly corner spray.

Do I Need A UV/Blacklight For My Scorpion?

We recommend buying a UV/blacklight flashlight to look for your scorpion if necessary. Do not use these types of lights for your scorpions (other than just simply finding where it is at, grabbing a quick photo or showing people the cool reaction scorpions have under ultra-violet light. This is due to UV radiation being detrimental to a scorpion's health, it can cause many problems and even result in the death of your scorpion.

Do I Need To Cover The Prey In Calcium Powder Or Anything Else?

No, scorpions do not consume solids (hence why you will find exo-skeletons and limbs of prey), they basically liquify their prey as they consume it. It is, however, always a good idea to gut-load your feeder insects.

What Other Animals Can I House With My Scorpions?

We do not recommend keeping any other animals in your scorpion's habitat. Scorpions are not known for co-habiting with other animals. It can result in the death of the other animal, your scorpion, or both.

An exception to this is Hadrurus species (Giant Desert Hairy Scorpions) co-habiting with Asbolus verrucosus (Blue Death-Feigning Beetles), as these have been known to co-habit with each other in the wild.

Can I Keep Two Different Species Of Scorpions Together?

We do not recommend putting two different species together, here are the reasons:

• Potentially different care requirements
• Territorialism
• Death of one, or both, species.

Another potential problem could be hybridization (cross-breeding). This could potentially happen if you keep two different species, of the same genus, together. We are not sure if this is possible, however we would not like to risk it.

Are Scorpions Poisonous?

All scorpions are venomous, not poisonous. Scorpions have to inject their venom using their aculeus (the stinger located at the end of the telson - the last part of of a scorpion's metasoma). 

Scorpion venom potency varies massively, most scorpions are not lethal to a healthy, adult human; however there are a few species which can produce a fatal envenomation.

Are Small Scorpions More Dangerous?

No, the overall size of the scorpion does not dictate how potent it's venom is. There are species of all sizes with different venom potencies.

Can Scorpions Jump?

No, scorpions cannot jump.

Can Scorpions Climb Glass Or Plastic?

No, scorpions cannot climb smooth surfaces such as glass, acrylic or plastic. They may be able to climb the silicone used to put the enclosure together depending on if there is a lot of excess material. They will also be able to escape if their first pair of legs reaches the top of the enclosure (if there is no lid for the enclosure) when they are using their metasoma to balance against the walls of the enclosure.

Does The Colour Of The Scorpion Reflect How Dangerous It Is?

No, the colour of a scorpion does not indicate how potent it's venom is.

What Is the Metasoma-Pedipalp (Stinger-Pinchers) Ratio? Is It True?

The metasoma-pedipalp ratio is the size (width) of the segments just before the stinger (the segments are known as the metasoma, the "bulb" at the end with the stinger are known as the telson) compared to the width of the claws (known as the pedipalps). 

The ratio is believed to be: The thicker the metasoma is, and the thinner the pedipalps are, the more dangerous the scorpion is.

Now, this ratio can often be true; however there are way too many exceptions to this "rule" for it to be used. For example, Centruroides species, such as Centruroides sculpturatus, do not have a thick metasoma and their pedipalps aren't thick nor thin. Another example is Hemiscorpius lepturus, these guys have extremely dangerous venom yet they have a thin metasoma and thick pedipalps.

To be safe, we recommend not touching any scorpions if you do not know what species they are. If you have been stung by a species that you are unsure of, reach medical attention as soon as possible - it is always better to be safe than sorry. 

How Many Species Of Scorpions Are There?

There are over 2500 species of scorpions recognised worldwide. Every continent except Antartica has scorpions.