New to scorpion, a few question...

[Jezabel]

I just got my first emperor scorpion. So far so good. He's eating, seem to like his tank... I've read that they can live up to 8 yrs and they can grow to 8-10 inches. At how old they reach their adult size? Anybody has a pic of a 10 inches emperor? Mine is about 4-5" head to tip of the tail and it's a male. Could he might already reach is adult size? And how ofen they molt? I've read alot of caresheet, witch one you think is the best?

Thanks alot

http://imagehost.auctionwatch.com/bin/imageserver.x/00000000/jezabel/DSCF03961.jpg

[Tim R.]

Geeeeez Jez your killing me...I just bought an Emperor last saturday and I don't have the guts to pick him up yet:o Mine is about the size of yours. I'm trying to dig up all the info I can as well. Check out petbugs.com if you don't find what your looking for here. What do you think of the flat rock scorpions? See ya

[Jezabel]

Flatrock looks really nice. But I bought an emperor because they are not really venemous to human and they are well tempered. I don't know much about flatrock and other type but I think they all look more "evil", I'm not going near anything else then emperor:D

I had a look at petbugs.com. There's lots of info there, thanks!

The other thing I've not found is the sings that they show (if any) before to sting(sp?). Sometimes, mine kind of wave it's big front leg (sorry, don't dnow the english word, the one that pinch!) and uncoiled it's tail almost completly. Do you know if those are the sign of agressivity?

[Dom]

I've handle over 50 different emperor scorpions - from LTC to a wc that had just arrived from a shipment ..

I have been stung only once and it was trully my fault ... It had a lots of substrate on him so while holding him I decided to blow softly on him to get it off .. that ticked him offf .. and he stung me from the back (not the front of his head but digged it back wards ..)

True their venom is non-potent .. about the equivalent of a tenth of a bee sting but HOLLY chit does it ever hurt! Get stung by a bee 2 or 3 times at the same place .. thats how it felt!

5 minutes later my hand was a bit num but nothing more .. I had a large red dot around the area he stung me for 2 days thought!


Honestly - I have never seen any signs of aggresivity from an emperor .. out of all the employee's at the zoo and the 30 or so emperors we have I am the only one to have ever been stung from an emperor .. It's fairly rare and generally, they will not sting.

Best of luck wit your little guy! (btw - I have never ever seen an emperor larger than 6 inches including tail??? - if anyone have pics of a bigger one - POST IT!)

Ciao

[Jezabel]

Thanks for all the info.

It must not be agressive behavior, I must be just a little paranoid about that!

I've read on some caresheet that some grow to 8-10 inches... maybe they where wrong. It sound so big to me.

Bye

[Tim R.]

Hey Dom, Is a red light a bad idea at night to watch this guy when he is cruising his cage? Is it unhealthy for him? And just how bad is their eye sight some say they're almost blind. But mine seems to know I'm there even if I creep up in an almost all dark room, he'll spin around real quick. It's wierd at the pet store where I bought him he was just sitting still in his cage. Now that he has some hiding places and a bigger tank he seems to be more active and alert. The other day I was moving a small piece of wood looking for a cricket, and out from under it he came he turned around and put his sting straight up in the air he looked like he meant buisness. Now I'm thinking twice about handling him. Sorry so long I'm trying to absorb all the info I can. Thanks, Tim:)

[Dom]

Hey Tim ..

I can tell you all the info I know but u must first understand .. I have worked with them for the past 2 years .. but i have never owned one or actually trully taken care of one so my info might not be correct so to anyone .. if what I say is wrong - plzz let me know ..


For the red light ... I would say their is nothing wrong woth it at all . I have never hear of health issues do to keeping themunder a red light ..

As for the eye sight it is fairly bad but they still can see .. their 8 eyescan see - don't get me wrong - they just use their other sense more .. such as smell with the two feathers on their stimach (flip him over u will see them) and vibrations and movements with all the hairs located on him everywhere .. basically he uses al his senses .. believe me though - its a great sigh of health when your scorpion is alert..

Seems like he likes his new enclosure to me .. maybe still a bit stressed ..

I suggest maybe handling him 2 to 3 times a day for no more than a minute to get him used to it ..

This way he will tame down very quickly ..

If you got any other questions .. pass them my way ..

I hope i could be of some help

[Tim R.]

Thanks a lot Dom.

[KolleenJ]

Have you looked at him under blacklight yet? I recently got an Emporer and WOW!!! It has to probably be the coolest thing ive ever seen. I tried to get a pic, but they all came out blurry....but man doe she GLOW!!!

You gotta check it out if you hav'nt already...
and if you already new, why didnt you tell me....lol:w

[marisa]

I used to look at my Israeli Gold Scorpion under blacklight sometimes....he glowed bright BRIGHT green...I think the emps glow blue but I could be wrong

marisa

[KolleenJ]

They too glow BRIGHT green....its amazing huh?

[Jezabel]

Yes KolleenJ, the guy at the pet store show me. Amazing! But I try to take some pics, And they came out like when he's not under a black light... I just thought I shoult try without a flash!

Thanks for telling.