[Discussion] Parabuthus spp.

Beautiful girl...looks like she'll make you happy with a big brood soon too.

GS wrote:

[HOW TO] detect a gravid Parabuthus liosoma

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Click here to view more documentation:

[HOW TO] Tell if your Scorpion is Gravid

Breeding Parabuthus liosoma
It's the first brood for this female specimen.
Gestation period: 6 months

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Detailed documentation will be put up soon to share with ASF forumers

Cheers,
GS

Is that your most recent brood GS? Or an older photo shoot you just got around to posting?

For this Parabuthus liosoma chosen by me to do a complete documentation, yes, it's a recent brood for her.

Haha.. I do have "tons" of other species documented photos archived in my PC by the name of the breeding projects.

I'll work on them as soon as i can

Top notch as always GS. That is quite possibly the fattest scorp I have ever seen, can't believe how visible that embryo is. The pics of her giving birth are very interesting also!

Thanks Jay!

That embryo shot was taken about 4th month during her gestation period.
It gets twice as clearer to view the embryos when it's coming to the 5-6th month, nearing the end of her gestation period

Woo!!! My adult female Parabuthus planicauda is Gravid! Can see the embryos and everything! Time to start feeding her more often.

Great news!

It'll be great to document how long does it take for embryos to be visible since the pairing had been done.

Congrats!

That's a bit difficult since it's a wild caught female. Had it for about Two months, maybe a little more. What is the brood size of this species like?

P.planicauda usually has a brood size of about 20-30.

Hi,

a couple of specific questions if I may.

1. My female Transvaalicus is fat but nowhere near like the Lisoma in this thread. She is the same length judging from the ruler, body alone of 44mm. I thought I saw signs of embryo's but that could be wishfull thinking. She has stopped eating and has barricaded the entrance to her house. As she is not as big / fat as the Lisoma I think she may be in for a malt?

2. She has been barricaded for two full days and this looks set to continue. Do I just leave her completely undisturbed? If so for how long before checking up on her?

3. You surely cannot breed the mother with her siblings?

4. She was caught as an adult, could I assume from the size that she is also a 7. instar?

5. Is the first brood smaller or is this of little relevance?

6. Does she need special substrate for giving birth?

Cheers

No special substrate needed, personally I think it's best not disturb her at all. She could be gravid and just having smaller brood than the one pictured.

44mm is a bit too small for an adullt, they grow up to 15cm with tail. You would also definitely know if you saw embryos, they are unmistakable.
There is also no real need to disturb her while she is barricaded up, when she needs food, water or needs to patrol her area she will open her burrow up again.
Have a look here at inbreeding: http://www.scorpion-forum.com/t2009p60-dwa-poll-and-debate (Callumb's post)
Brood sizes depend on a wide range of things, food, water, disturbances, heat etc so it is pretty difficult to pin point the cause of brood sizes.
She will probably give birth on almost any substrate you provide as long as she is hot enough but she would definitely feel more calm in a deep burrow than sitting on loose stones or sand.

Thanks guys,

@shadowfoot, the 44mm is just the body length, the tail is probably another 60mm. She is very aggressive so don't like to get my hands close so cannot measure her accurately.

Man 150mm for a Pt. that would be awesome if she grew that big.

Ok, she has been self barricaded for 5 days now. How long does either a moult or giving babies take.

You are not looking at days but weeks and months

Gracious,

I bought her a new home with fancy black light, temp gauge, going to fit a thermostat to regulate heat. I wonder if I should move her this weekend before the long wait, that way the temperature and all other things will be more controlled and conducive for healthier living.

Cheers

You can move her if you know she is still a long way away from molting. Just keep her warm, like 30 - 35 degrees celsius, and everything should be fine. You can also offer water like every second week in a bottle cap.
The black light you mentioned, is it one that makes her glow? If it is I would advise against it.

The black light is a 15W heat source that is like dark moonlight.

Moved her over ... now I am convinced that I am about to become the owner of a brood of scorpions. Yee haa

Well it would appear as if my lack of knowledge of the feminine species now extends to Scorpions. She is back out as if nothing ever happened? Still as fat though.

Ah well back to square 1.

They always keep us waiting :/

She seems much happier with the new substrate I put in. Like a desert sand, I had pool filter sand in previously. Bought a scorpion care book over the weekend, it is quiet interesting.

The finer sand also traps moisture so I will be able to control hunidity better. It also allows for better burrowing.

Where does one buy humidity meters in S.A.