Sort of a follow up to my previous post about my scorp showing pre-death symptoms of my other emperor that died a few days ago:
http://www.scorpion-forum.com/t10697-discovered-emp-dead-other-scorp-in-commune-displaying-similar-pre-death-behaviour
Long story short, moved my 2 scorpions into a new enclosure last week with the aftermath that 1 died shortly after. (During last weekend)
My other scorp started mimicking his pre-death behaviour since Tuesday (i.e stilting for hours on end) and yesterday evening I noted my remaining scorp's legs were twitching violently, followed by the scorp almost attempting to pull them off with his pincers and flicking his stinger on them.
Checked up on him later; he could not walk. He was moving by dragging himself along the substrate with his pincers and using his metasoma to push him forward, while his legs were either limp or twitching.
Shortly after, I found him on his back, limbs quivering. I helped him over, and went to bed.
This morning I found him in the same spot - But his body is entirely rigid and hard; unlike my other dead scorp who I found limp a few days ago. He is almost "frozen" with his telson high above his body and his pincers above the ground. Torso also isn't moving whatsoever, he is completely solid.
Is it possible for dead scorpions to enter rigor mortis? If not, is my scorp still alive?
Also, *what* would cause a scorpion to act in the above manner?? (The twitching, being unable to walk, etc.)
I have a very strong suspicion that the new substrate I used affected them, because while I was prepping the pete moss I noted a different smell, and as it dried slightly I realized the smell was somewhat chemical. (After the death of my firt scorp, I removed the other one but it seems it was too late.)
The rest of the conditions for the scorps were met to a T, so I find it too much of a coincidence that both would die after a substrate change.
