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Anonymous
Any hands-on experience by an /an/on about having a scorpion as a pet(s)? I've been thinking about them as potential pets.
>> Anonymous
bump as I have been thinking too.
>> Anonymous
they sting
>> Anonymous
I work with reptiles, spiders and scorpions myself~

If you get a black scorpion it can make a fine pet if you ask me. They don't need a lot of maintenance, only eat insects and aren't more poisonous than a wasp.

Just don't expect them to be as cuddly as hamsters. >_>
>> Anonymous
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>>271436

What the hell is a black scorpion?

I have this black scorpion here. Does it make a good pet? Is it harmless? Can I cuddle it?
>> Anonymous
>>271474

You must be fucking kidding me, those two arent the same species, just look at its fucking tail and tinny pinsirs! That fucker is poisonous like hell!
>> Anonymous
>>271474
Pretty sure he meant a black Emperor Scorpion, man. They sell them in petstores around here from time to time.
>> Anonymous
>>271436
Can I give it another scorpion as a friend? Or would they just fight to the death instead?

Could I give it larger insects like grasshoppers and mantids to kill and feast upon?
>> Anonymous
>>271490

Chela size as an indicator of venom toxicity is used by people who don't know shit about scorpions.

You can eat most scorpions too. They're not poisonous. They do have venom though, which makes them venomous.

>>271495

Then he should have said Emperor Scorpion or Pandinus imperator. Common names are annoying enough, but "black scorpion?" What the fuck is that? Androctonus crassicauda is a black scorpion too but capable of killing a person.

It'd be funny if a seller labeled A. crassicauda as "black scorpion" and a misinformed person who thinks all black scorpions are P. imperator gets it and dies when they try handling it.
>> Gunlord !.YMO7aNBcQ
>>271507
biologist anon?
>> Anonymous
>>271507
Actually size can be used to indicate the level or toxicity of venom in a scorpion. The smaller the scorpion, the more potent the venom.
>> Anonymous
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>>271512
Actually that isn't quite true.

Case and point, The Southern Devil scorpion, as well the Vaejovis carolinianus are both really small (max size is 2 inches) and are less venomness than a bee
>> Anonymous
>>271512
This is untrue as there are morphs of Androctonus Australis that can reach up to 5 inches the biggest on record having been 5.5 inches. That is a big scorpion and also very deadly. Going by size, chela size, tail size is in general foolish. The best thing to do is to look at how each scorpion looks and be able to identify the features of the venomous sps. The small desert scorpions of the south west like the Vaejovis are no more dangerous than a wasp yet they do not pass 2 inches.
Asian forest scorpions and Emperors are ok beginner scorpions. The venom is not dangerous. The only problem is keeping them humid enough without risking mites or fungi.
>> Anonymous
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If you really want to keep a scorpion ask a few more questions here, and I will be happy to answer them.
Attached is Androctonus Crassicauda a pretty venomous scorpion that is black.
>> Anonymous
>>271528
>>271526
Eep, I withdraw my remark.
>> Anonymous
I would recommend getting some of the smaller North American species or even Scorpio maurus over a Pandinus or Heterometrus. Sure, they're smaller and you can't really handle them, but that's over-rated to begin with. Apart from getting to watch them actually use their tails you also don't have to worry about mites or fungal infections, which is one of the biggest killers of pet scorpions requiring high humidity.

My particular favorites are members of the Hottentotta genus but I can't really in good conscience recommend them to a beginner.
>> Anonymous
>>271536
I agree with you. Even a Hadrurus Arizonensis makes an awesome first scorpion. It is too easy to kill a forest scorpion with mites, fungi or mycosis. By any chance do you have anything for trade/sale?
>> Anonymous
>>271537
Sorry, no. I used to breed H. judaicus and trilineatus and sell to the local pet shops but because of time and financial constraints (as well as an arachnophobic gf) I stopped keeping about 4 years back.
>> Anonymous
I heard you have to compare the size of the claws to the size of the "ball" the stinger grows from. If it has big claws relative to the stinger. It mainly uses its claws to hunt so the venom is less powerful and may not be a danger to humans. If it has small claws relative to the stinger. It mainly uses its venom to hunt so the venom is more powerful and maybe a danger to humans.
>> Anonymous
>>271542
Nature doesn't always adhere to generalizations.
>> Anonymous
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>>271542
False. Hemiscorpius lepturus of the middle east have a very potent venom that is not neurotoxic, but hemolytic. Causing severe internal and external ulcers. A very morbid scorpion. The chela is bigger than the telson. On this species
>> Anonymous
>>271542
Also that generalization is just dumb because even Emperor scorpions will sting if the prey struggles too much (more if the scorpion is younger). All scorpions will use their chela to hunt. They need to hold the prey for the sting.
>> Anonymous
>>271539
Shame. I really love desert sps. H.judaicus and jakyeri are really awesome.
>> Anonymous
>>271547
Yes but if the pincers are larger, it shows that the scorpion evolved to rely more on them and less on the venom.
If the tail-bulb is larger, then the scorpion relies more on its venom than its pincer-strength.
>> Anonymous
>>271549
Really? Because all my heterometrus sp scorpions that I have posses huge claws yet they always sting their prey. I personally believe its a matter of defense not hunt. Forest scorpions face predators and competition that bigger claws help a lot against. Look at that Hemiscorpius lepturus.
>> Anonymous
>>271551
Hmn. Point taken.
>> Anonymous
Let me hijack your thread. I'm on the prowl for some Parabuthus Transvaalicus sub adults/adults. Let me know if anyone has some :)
>> Anonymous
I don't get why these animals evolved to have stingers on their tails making them arch their asses all over the place to sting shit. Why didn't they just develop poison pincers?
>> Anonymous
>>271582
Probably because they cannot defend themselves by grabbing something that comes from the top and behind.
>> Anonymous
OP here,

As a pet that you don't handle much, if at all, how easy are they to take care of?
>> Anonymous
>>271820
Really easy. All you really have to to is provide suitable temperatures and humidity for the species you're keeping (keeping in mind they should be cooler at night), suitable hiding spots, throw in a few insects every week, and clean out the empty insect husks occasionally. Desert species don't even need a water source outside of their prey.
>> Anonymous
Can you feed them things besides insects? I was looking at the Wiki article on the "hadrurus arizonensis" and it said it could eat lizards.

Also, do two scorpions of the same gender get along well? Or should there only be one?
>> Anonymous
>>271888
I wouldn't advise it. Larger specimens could and do occasionally kill and consume animals other than insects in the wild but they consume their food by tearing off bits and liquefying it, so in captivity it's just a messy waste and you're left with a partially eaten putrefying animal.

It depends on the species. Many species can be kept in small groups provided that the enclosure is large enough, there are enough hiding spaces, all the specimens are of about the same size, and they're properly fed. Just do your research first.
>> Anonymous
>>271898
On the subject of enclosures, I was thinking of keeping the scorpions in a large glass sandbox case that would sit horizontally on a large table, kind of like a room centerpiece. I was thinking about 5' x 5' x 9" (xyz). I would think this would be more than adequate space for a scorpion or two (or maybe three). It could also double as a table. What sort of bedding should be in that? I was thinking three or four inches of sand.
>> Anonymous
>>271907
For most desert species that would be adequate for... 10+, give or take a few. The general rule for smaller speces is no more than 3 per square foot. Have you actually taken into consideration how you'd keep it adequately heated and ventilated?
>> Anonymous
>>271918
For heating I was considering setting up a sort of miniature ventilation system from beneath the table with grates around the glass sandbox for oxygen and humidity reduction. If I'm not mistaken the heat and air conditioning from the system should come up through the sand. Yes, I'm aware this is all very expensive.
>> Anonymous
Have you decided on a species yet?
>> Anonymous
why not just use nail clippers and blunt the tail?
>> Anonymous
They look cool, but they have the problem of not doing much.

Desert critters who want to sit alone under a rock.

Probably not a good pet if you want something that'll interact with you and often be visible. 'Spect it'll be just peachy if you can appreciate the arachnid for its own uniqueness and such though.
>> sage
>>272551
Do all species sit under rocks all the time? I don't really care if the scorpion is moving around but I think they're really neat looking so I'd like to look at them even if they're just sitting there doing nothing.
>> Anonymous
>>272572
Unlike tarantulas most species aren't inactive at all. They're just nocturnal. If you keep them on a day/night cycle they wander all over the place hunting once the lights are dimmed and the tenperature drops a few degrees.
>> Anonymous
>>272581
So, like hermit crabs lol.