how to hold a scorpion

hey everybody.
i know scorpions gain nothing from holding them, but on the off chance, i need to pick one up if something happens, then what is the best way to do so.
one would think hold just under the telson. but they have 3 arm sections, much like a spider crab, and you hold them differently to other crabs since they bend back and grab you.
thanks
tom

My rule is to not pick them up by the tail. It usually ticks them off and they can still attack you in that position. One hobbyist actually damaged the tail doing it that way.

You can place your hand in the tank and gently brush it on. You can also have it go on top of an object while in the tank, then take the object, and have it move onto your hand. Some people also scoot them into small containers first as well. Just be gentle and stay in control of the situation so you don't end up flinging the poor thing across the room. I also advise to not breath directly on the scorpion when handling because they are very sensitive to it.

thanks Lao. it's that when i did scouts, a guy came in w/ emps and he said hold it by the tail. now i know, i tries scooping my P. cav up and he got angry and spun round :/ some pinch force on them, i would not want to get it wrong and end up with blood all over my baby.

Scorpions are for looking at, not holding lol. To be honest I do not see any reason why you would ever be put in to a position where you HAD to hold it.
For me personally I can not risk being stung as the only thing I seem to be allergic to is stings lol (god knows why I have got 13 scorpions at the end of my bed then lol). However even if you are holding a 'placid' scorpion and for what ever reason, out of the blue it decides to nail you how are you going to react?
99.9% of people are going to go 'get the F off me'. This will probably result in a scorpion being dropped or flung across a room which could result in injury/stress/death to the poor thing that was only reacting on its instincts.
Scorpions are not sociable pets like say a dog or cat is. They do not see a human as anything but a potential threat in my opinion. Even if you have a scorpion that never uses its sting or claws to defend itself it still does not enjoy being handled.

If you have to move your scorpion use a small container and a 'poker' (i couldn't think of a proper name lol) stick to guide it in to it and if you really have to, a pair of rubber tipped forceps.
I apologise for the extremist view on handling scorpions lol but I really do not see the point. There are to many people who go out and buy a scorpion so they can hold it and look 'ard and it really does my head in.
Rant over lol

thanks Callum. i decided to break/brake (idk) the aquarium cleaner, i snapped the brush bit off so now i have a 'poker' lol. that's the thing callum. an animal that that cannot be domesticated cannot be a pet, like you say they see humans as a threat. i was looking at forceps at the place im doing work experience next week, they are quite expensive, but i should still really buy something, at the moment i' using (they are new btw) a pair of forceps that helps remove the hook from a fish's mouth. it has a curve, so it's not verey practical.
@Callum . i guess that when you clean your vivs, you scoop 'em up like you said and put the in a different pot, or do you leave them in the tub, you use to scoop them up in the first place?
thanks for the rant. your views are good, since i agree that many people probably go out to buy a scorpion, just to hold it. i imagine that it happens more with T.s .
i think i'm not even going to attempt to hol my P. cav, he's a nasty mofo. (yes i said he was placid, he must have settled in and become less pussy)

Haha god I were raving last night. I think i'd had one to many at the pub lol.
Yer I usually just scoop em up in a cricket box and chuck the lid on it when I need to move them.
What kind of work have you chosen for your work experience?

my cav came in a cricket box, i kept it just incase
the work experience is 'ark pets and reptiles' i get to feed the snakes, T.s and other verts. general enclosure upkeep

Nice, thats an awesome place to do your work experience. Have they given you any freebys or anything yet lol?

im thinking about volenteering at my local exotics place as the poor girl in there is run off her feet most of the time bless her

that's a good idea bex, are you going to drop hints that you want stuff if you end up helping lol?

dammit the last post didn't work
i said
the work starts monday callum.
and if i don't ask for stuff, i don't get, so i may as well ask for a chile rose, for being such a good boy. that way mum won't be able to stop me from buying one

Just my thoughts on that...

If you're dealing with a scorpionid of large size i.e. genus Pandinus, Heterometrus etc... I must say that using a paint brush or some other dull-ended object to nudge them on to your open hand, is a much better alternative than grabbing them anywhere with a set of tweezers. For basic enclosure maintenance transfers... I just sweep them into a medium deli and situate them in some tall bucket.... similarly with Flat-rocks (Hadogenes) grabbing them by the metasoma (tail) may cause critical injury to them.

With Buthids, my general rule is NEVER grab them or sweep them on to your hand unless you know their temperament in the event you feel ever so compelled. I would sweep them into a vial, being that most of them are of small size.... and especially if it's a Lieurus or Androctonus, NO direct contact with the animal is at all necessary or effectively beneficial to your scorpion or 'your' scorpion keeping... but if you insist, you do so at your own risk....

Cheers and best regards

the ladys reallt noice she has already offered me second hand exo terras and a beardies and snakes and stuff, just want to help to help really, feel sorrt for her she has tons of stuff at home (she takes on any unwanted stuff) has kids and the shop so it constantly on the go

LXDNG79 wrote:

With Buthids, my general rule is NEVER grab them or sweep them on to your hand unless you know their temperament in the event you feel ever so compelled. I would sweep them into a vial, being that most of them are of small size.... and especially if it's a Lieurus or Androctonus, NO direct contact with the animal is at all necessary or effectively beneficial to your scorpion or 'your' scorpion keeping... but if you insist, you do so at your own risk....

no problem there mate.. can't get them without a license and i'm still to young lol.

*~BEX~* wrote:

the ladys reallt noice she has already offered me second hand exo terras and a beardies and snakes and stuff, just want to help to help really, feel sorrt for her she has tons of stuff at home (she takes on any unwanted stuff) has kids and the shop so it constantly on the go

that's really nice, you should try to get down there, i guess she would really appreciate it. how big is the shop and how busy is it bex?

It's not big at all but is busy, the room is only about 3 meter squared but wall to wall with tanks, they are in south east water gardens which is up for sale so she has that to deal with too, the prospect of having to move suddenly is not good! And by local it's like 5 miles from me 1 mile from my mums and the kids school so could drop kids off and go help even if it's just cleaning out and stuff, think the poor lass deserves a break

yeah thats it. every little helps. well done anyway