First Pandinus cavimanus (Red Claw)

Hey everybody, just got my first scorpion, a Pandinus cavimanus (Red Claw). I know it's not supposed to be for starters, but I never plan to handle it. Had it right at 24 hours now, doesn't seem interested in eating yet. Seems pretty moody...lol. Dug a small burrow in the front corner of the 10 gallon tank I have it in (5 inches of Coco Fiber). Gave it 2 small crickets, one went into it's burrow and I guess it became irritated because it cut the cricket in two with it's pincher and left it there. lol I have it misted down pretty good with distilled water. It doesn't seem to interested in the two hide's i placed in there. Just keeps working on a small burrow (well, a hole actually), of course it's in the corner, so it really really expand it towards the glass like it's trying to. Should I add a small heat source under the tank. If I got one of those heating pads, would it heat up through 5 inches of substrate? Here's a couple of pictures of him digging and the enclosure.

They are a very "private" type as I have one also. Mine like to burrow in other places, away from the obvious shelter. They rely on vibrations, so, I place the cricket in the habitat and go a safe distance to observe. And seriously dont worry about the "not eating", their metabolism is so slow they can last a very long time without food. As far as the heat pad, from experiences from folks on here, place it on the side of the tank and insure you have a temparture control.

PaperTiger wrote:

They are a very "private" type as I have one also. Mine like to burrow in other places, away from the obvious shelter. They rely on vibrations, so, I place the cricket in the habitat and go a safe distance to observe. And seriously dont worry about the "not eating", their metabolism is so slow they can last a very long time without food. As far as the heat pad, from experiences from folks on here, place it on the side of the tank and insure you have a temparture control.

Good info! It actually just ate for the first time. It stopped digging for a while and was walking around exploring I guess. Thought I'd offer it a cricket once more before I went to bed. Actually held the cricket in the tweezers and it latched on pretty quick, I let go of the cricket and it ate it. Eats alot faster than I had thought. Interesting how the mouth works.

yea it's pretty nifty, mine grabs the cricket then shoves it in its mouth and waits for another, ive had it have one in its mouth and one in either claw. It's quite amusing

It's like it has an extra set of pinchers on either side of it's mouth. I'm watching mine dig as I type this, it's very cool! It uses it's rear 4 legs as traction to back out of the hole, and the front 4 to rake the dirt backwards as it backs out. Also, when it's gathering dirt at the bottom, it's mouth "pinchers" are moving quite a bit too. Wonder if it's trying to get water or moisture from the substrate?

As Papertiger said, if you get a heat mat, make sure you place it on the side of the tank and not underneath.
Remember: scorps burrow to get away from the heat... If you were to put it on the bottom it would upset their natural balance cycle


Hope this helps

I've seen my desert hairy use its "mouth pincers" or chelicerae when digging too. I really do think it's used in the digging.

Well, checked on my scorpion today, and he has abandoned the original burrow in the front corner. He has moved under the pot on the right in the pictures, and dug a burrow under it all the way down to the glass in the back corner of the tank. Looks pretty comfortable sitting in there. It cleared some of the substrate away from the glass and made a small hole so I can actually see in there where he's sitting. Well I can see his tail anyway. Wonder if I should fill in the original burrow, or if it will use it too?

They are fine for starters. Defensive wise they are mostly pinchy. Venom they are on par with P imperator. It was my first scorpion.

Doesn't matter really, but i'd leave the old burrow alone. If it bothers you then just cover it up.