Escorpião Heterometrus spinifer

CARE GUIDE

Size: Adults can reach 12cm

Origin: Asia

Lifespan: Up to 8 years

Natural Habitat: Heterometrus scorpions originate from Asian rainforests.

Heterometrus scorpions are a very hardy, semi-docile and temperamental genus. Like all scorpions, they are venomous. Although the venom is not usually dangerous to most people, handling should be avoided. Even so, they are still a scorpion species suitable for beginners.

Although this is an easy species to keep, you should pay attention to a few aspects and ensure certain conditions, which you will find in the following paragraphs.

Terrarium

Size: A minimum terrarium of 30x30x30cm is recommended for 1 adult. Younger animals should be kept in proportionally smaller terrariums.

Material: Glass or Acrylic.

 - Heating and Lighting

Set up a terrarium with a thermal gradient, with a minimum of 24ºC on the cool side and around 32ºC on the warm side. At night the temperature should not drop below 21ºC. To reach both day and night temperatures, you can use a Heat Mat (properly controlled by a thermostat).  

Scorpions do not need UVB.

- Humidity

As Heterometrus scorpions live in rainforests, a relative humidity of around 80% should be maintained. 

It is important that they always have a shallow water dish available to drink from.

- Decor

For decor, try to recreate a forest-floor habitat. This species likes to burrow, so provide a tropical substrate at least 7cm deep. You can decorate the terrarium with logs, plants (live or artificial), cork bark, stones, moss... 

Diet and Supplementation

Feeding habits: Insectivorous

 Diet: As juveniles they should be fed daily. As they grow, feeding can be reduced to every other day or even every two days.

- Foods

Insects: Roaches, Crickets, Locusts, Calcium Worms, Waxworms, Mealworms...

- Supplementation

For vitamin and mineral supplementation, alternate a meal dusted with Calcium Powder with one dusted with a quality Multivitamin Complex (with Vit. D3). 

Under Portuguese Law No. 95/2017 of 23 August, the sale and/or advertising of wild/exotic animals through websites or online platforms is not permitted. To find out which animals we currently have available and their conditions of sale, please get in touch with us.