new, need hints/tips

hi everyone! im new to scorpion keeping, but ive always wanted to so i have, anyway, i have 2 emperors, one about 2 1\2 inches in length and another about 3 1\2 inches, both kept in same tank as i researched that this was possible, the tank is approx 18" length by 12", they have their own little bark hides, heat tray installed, water dish, and other little bits of wood in the tank, this all in about 3" of eco earth, but, does anyone have any hints or tips that could help me make their life even better as at the end of the day i want them to lead as good a life as is possible! thanks guys !

well fisrt off welcome to the site....


as far as your question goes there is a care sheet that gives lots of good info.. but I will give you some of what I know....


Substrate: damp coco fiber or peat, deep enough for burrows 4-6"

Humidity: high, between 80 and 90 percent.

Temperature: 80s to 90s Fahrenheit --

Hides: Tank should have more hides then scorpions.

Water dish should be deep enough to allow the scorp to submerse but have climbable sides.


Thats just a few I can think of off the top of my head.....

hi welcome... im still a noob but here is what i know:

Substrate: coco fiber, deep enough for burrows (four to six inches is recommend)

Humidity: high, between 80 and 90 percent Provide a water dish deep enough for the scorpion to submerge itself in with climbable sides.

Temperature 80s to 90s Fahrenheit can be kept cooler, but the scorpion may display more sluggish behavior

Preferred hiding spot: burrows. These scorpions are generally known as "pet holes," meaning they prefer to stay in their burrows 90% of the time; as such, no decoration is necessary. i believe the general rule is make sure u have as many hides as you have scorpions.

Don't worry if it stops eating. Scorps have slow metabolisms and sometimes go months without eating for no real reason. Males seem more prone to this than females.
A new scorp likes to explore its habitat.
"A scorp that stays in its burrow is a happy scorp.If you like seeing your scorpions, make a "starter burrow" against the side of the tank. They will probably hang out there and you can see them while they feel secure and at home.

Ok first of all, our 2 follow members gave you the option of coco fibers OR PEAT. No peat. If you want to use peat, mix it in dont make it straight peat because it does not offer them the ability to burrow in and thats very bad.

thanks guys, i do have another question though, of the two that i have, one seems to be displaying some "different" behaviour than the other, ie "he" (im assuming) keeps going up to "her" and kind of sitting on top and for want of a better word "vibrating" on her for a second or so, then move round to a different position and doing it again, is this a threatening display ?( i feel as though it isnt) or is it courtship display? or something i havent thought of ? ? cheers guys !

sorry have edited it now, it does say peat on the caresheet for emps posted my Mr.Mordax in the care sheet section though....

Mr. Mordax wrote:

Substrate: damp coco fiber or peat, deep enough for burrows (four to six inches is recommend)

i believe the males shaking/juddering can be a mating thing but ive also read they do it as a territorial thing..... when they mate the male holds the females pedipalps/claws , and they kinda dance a while....not sure about actually mounting her lol certainly doesnt sound like threatening behaivour though.... see what some more experienced people say.....do you have any pics of your emps and set up?

Well its both territorial and mating like bex said. Often when you mess with them aswell, they do this as a sign of saying F Off....

There could be slight differences in the patterns of shaking/juddering that we're not picking up. I've seen the territorial one in person and I've seen the mating one in videos. It looks like they're different, but it's too bad I don't have two videos to compare...maybe I can find it on the net.

I see you said that you have a heat tray installed.... Is it underneath the tank? If so, then you need to move it to the back side of the tank - scorps burrow to get away from the heat.

binksyboy3 wrote:

I see you said that you have a heat tray installed.... Is it underneath the tank? If so, then you need to move it to the back side of the tank - scorps burrow to get away from the heat.

oh yeah never noticed he said tray does kinda imply that its underneath doesnt it..... so yeah....

+1

well thanks for the replies guys, i defo think it was a courtship thing as on further obs it looks like"he" was indeed trying to cop a feel of "her" pedipalps and hold onto them, i also read that the juddering thing was also a way that they try and confirm if the scorp near them was a, same species, and b, male/female, oh and the heat mat question is yes it is under the tank, but, what i have done is put layers of heavy slate directly onto the top of said mat to counter any burrowing that may occur, (the actual heat mat is under the tank not in it) has anyone else done this? does it work? have i totally biffed it ? anyway the effect intank is quite pleasing and they have a nice warm place to sit on and not get hurt on by burrowing into any overly warm area, what do you guys think? ill do my best to get some pics sorted soon! im assuming the "bucket" is the way forward in this issue ?. . . .cheers guys !

Aw it must be love then lol... as for the heat matt....you should put heat matt on the side of the viv the reason it should not be on the bottom is that the scorps cannot escape the heat if they need too.... they would naturally burrow to escape heat but they obviously cant if the sorce of the heat is beneath them

roguetrooper68 wrote:

well thanks for the replies guys, i defo think it was a courtship thing as on further obs it looks like"he" was indeed trying to cop a feel of "her" pedipalps and hold onto them, i also read that the juddering thing was also a way that they try and confirm if the scorp near them was a, same species, and b, male/female, oh and the heat mat question is yes it is under the tank, but, what i have done is put layers of heavy slate directly onto the top of said mat to counter any burrowing that may occur, (the actual heat mat is under the tank not in it) has anyone else done this? does it work? have i totally biffed it ? anyway the effect intank is quite pleasing and they have a nice warm place to sit on and not get hurt on by burrowing into any overly warm area, what do you guys think? ill do my best to get some pics sorted soon! im assuming the "bucket" is the way forward in this issue ?. . . .cheers guys !

hey there

yeah, the heat mat should always be outside of the tank and for scorpions, always on the side and not the bottom.

https://2img.net/h/i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac219/roguetrooper68/P9193647-Copy4.jpg

use the code that starts and ends with [IMG] to post your pics normally the last of the 4 codes you get from photobucket..

roguetrooper68 wrote:

https://2img.net/h/i901.photobucket.com/albums/ac219/roguetrooper68/P9193647-Copy4.jpg

That'll do, I can see the pic

That's no emperor scorpion though, it's an asian forest scorpion, a Heterometrus sp.

You should take pics of the other scorpion too, so we can confirm if it's the same species.

wow there seems to be a lot of heterometrus species lately
lol

hi guys! it would appear as though there is indeed a discrepency with my two "emperors" i think one is and one aint ! ill see if ive got this right and you guys can either confirm what i think or tell me whats what (pics to follow) the darker black one is the emp and the blackish/redish/ is an asian forest, can someone also sex the emp for me please ? and please tell me they will be ok together as they were sold as a pair of emps ! ! lol hope the pics are clear enuf for u all !

id say thats a male

231bex wrote:

id say thats a male

i have to agree

That pectine shot looks like its of the het and not the emp?

The one with the bumpy claws is the emp and the other is the Het.

Based on advice from other members, I'd suggest not keeping them together. I've tried it myself and it didn't go well. The emp kept harrassing the Het. You may have better luck, however.

It also looks like a male to me.

thanks for the reply guys ! been back to place of sale and explained the situation, all is well and a swap for another asian forest is on the cards for this sat ! oh and the pic of the pectine is defo the emp !

roguetrooper68 wrote:

thanks for the reply guys ! been back to place of sale and explained the situation, all is well and a swap for another asian forest is on the cards for this sat ! oh and the pic of the pectine is defo the emp !

than your emp is def a male =)