signs of molting?

Subject: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 5:12 am

Okay, so i just got my emp yesterday.
Now ive beeen loking through the emp forums, and have very much been reinforced on not to panic if they dont eat.

im not worried, but..... should i take a cricket out if its not eaten it? cos i cant catch the bugger. Took me long enough to get it in the tank....

And anothe rpoint is, could it be molting, or could it be stressed? Its not stayin in its hide anymore, and has been out, in the light, sitting on a flat rock. I know its not dying or starving cos theres a cricket in there, and when i got a tiny paint brush and gently touched its front claw the whole thing reared up like a beast.

should i be worried or not.... and is it about to molt? its pretty slugish

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 5:42 am

if you haven't already, read the emperor FAQs
https://scorpionforum.darkbb.com/the-burrow-in-ghana-emperor-zone-f34/frequently-asked-questions-about-emperor-scorpions-p-imperator-t13.htm
is your emp an adult? if it is then it wont be about to molt, you cant tell if it is still a juvenile by the light colour of the telson, adults have a dark redish brown telson.
if it is a juvie then if it looks stupidly fat then it will probably be about to molt.
the sluggishness and not eating could be due to low temperatures?
i would take the cricket out after a day Smile

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 5:44 am

Dont worry about it. Its in a new place and hasnt settled in yet. They normally can be seen for up to 3 days outside the hide exploring or just hanging out.

My female pandinus imperator spends 98% of her time outside the hide! She is totally fine...I guess she is just strange and has been strange like that since last year.

When they are ready to moult they really do go very very plump. Like a ball basically with legs
They will always refuse food but also as its been put into a new home, the shock of the move might be the only ready he/she doesnt want to eat.

Crickets are hard to catch again. You could use a cup if you are finding it really hard to get your hands on the little one.
When you do manage to catch the cricket, leave it a week before offering again

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 5:46 am

Also *ran out of space*

If its due to moult it will need to make sure it has the right conditions.
Nice and humid and the heat pad...but as you said you had all that going and working fine, then there will not be any problems moulting.

Take the cricket out and just wait a week. I bet in a weeks time, if its due a moult and on the verge of moulting it will probably do it this week, you never know! and if it does, wait a few days after the moulting before adding in food.

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 5:49 am

Thanks for your advice, if i go leave it a week, will it not starve?
how will i know if its hungry?

Also, what will happen if i just leave the cricket in there?

From what youve said i doubt it is molting, and it appears to be an adult from the telson. But it is kinda smalll if it is, do they continue to grow when mature?

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 5:52 am

Scorpions can go weeks to months without eating.
This is normal.
It will let you know by being under its hide and poking its "claws" out and open. This we all call the "feed me pose".

If you leave the cricket in there and the scopion doesnt want to eat...the vribrations will annoy it and chances are it will kill the cricket and not eat it.

Why dont you take a picture of your scorpions.

I thought you said you had a 2I scorpling or was this someone else!??! Did the shop tell you that...if so OMG and super eyeroll!
Babies are clearly babies hahahaha

If you have an adult and you are 100% you have an adult then just leave it a week before offering food. Let your scorpion settling in first

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 7:15 am

i assumed it was 2I because it is small. Im pretty sure its adult, orangey brown telson. It was just me being a noob sorry.
And i have some pictures but they are not very good (because they arnt clear) but i could put some up anyways.

And yes ill leave it a week. The scorpion has burrowed underneath his half roof tile with claws closed.

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 1:33 pm

Well I wouldnt class an adult pandinus imperator as small. an iomachus politus adult scorpion I would class as small...but a pandinus would be...large in my scale of things.
the telson suggest adult but I wouldnt call an adult small.
Small in my mind would be...well a small scorpion, like a scorpling.

Can you measure it?
like put it in a container and lay a ruler next to the container and measure the body of if you can, tip of mouth to imagining tip of tail with very close guess to where it would lie if out flat

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 8:20 pm

yes ill do it now......

4 inches about right for an adult? claw tip to telson if it was stretched..... maybe ive got the wrong idea from zoomed in google images

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 8:23 pm

So now i had a look on the net and one website said 12cm and one website said 8" which is a fair difference really.

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 8:30 pm

Four inches is about right for a smallish adult when you don't count the pinchers. Eight inches would be an extreme example and when counting the pinchers.

The easiest solution is to just post a picture.

Subject: Re: signs of molting? 7/28/2009, 8:53 pm

well i have some pictures but they are pretty rubbish and havnt much sense of scale.
And one has me picking it up by the tail (like the guy in the pet shop did) which i have now learnt i shouldnt do. Ill try get a proper camera on everything instead of my phone

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» Signs of an unhappy and unhealthy scorpion
» Molting??
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