Hottentotta hottentotta eating

I currently own four Hottentotta Hottentotta and I have been browsing numerous HH feeding videos on YouTube comparing how other HH's eat compared to my own. I noticed that the HH's in the videos eat like crazy, like they are aggressively attacking their prey. My HH's don't seem to eat like that and really never have. I have had them for approximately 6 months and have never witnessed my HH's sting or even go after their prey like what I saw on the videos. Usually what I have to do is prekill their food and leave it in their enclosures overnight. Do you know or have any suggestions on why my HH's aren't as active as the other's when it comes to eating? Have you ever heard of an HH not being an aggressive eater?

Hi Joey,

I understand why you are puzzled.

First of.. may i ask:

Have any of these four H.hottentotta of yours ever molted while in your care?

I revived the h.hottentotts as 2-3 instar. While in my care they molted at least 2-3 times making them 4-5 instar, at least I think. I didn't keep track of the instar's and now I wish I would have.

Here is a picture with a size comparison:

That Hottentotta hottentotta (HH) in the picture you just posted seems about right.. 4-5.instar

Each time after my HH molts. It'll take 2-4 days for her exo to be harden. I usually start the first feeding about 1 week after her most recent molt. Feeder offered is usually 1/2 of her body size or same body size.. and each time.. a launch of "aggressive" attack accompanied with a sting or two is inevitable.

On power feeding (not a necessity), HH can be fed daily till she gets fatten up (just like the pic you posted) and they'll slow down their feeding habits to about once in 1-2 weeks or more. At the same time, the eagerness to grab prey and sting will be fairly reduced.

There's no need to offer pre-killed unless in the following conditions:

1) while feeding 2-3.instar and you do not have feeder in appropriate size
2) if you suspect a molt is coming up but you still wish to offer food.. just in case she still needs a feeding or two just to attain the next molt

To answer your question, if you wish to witness a sting and aggressive hunting, after a fresh molt, wait a min of 10-12 days before offering the first bite. It will be very strange if she fails to impress you..

Personally, i've witness a 3.instar took on an adult B.lateralis or adult cricket which is at least 3 times her body size.

Of cos, while waiting (during the 10-12 days after the most recent molt), remember to keep water supply constant.

My preference as follows:
2-5.instar: one side of the enclosure is to be misted lightly, you may choose to slightly dampen 1/3 of the substrate's surface area. This will give her the alternative to regulate her humidity requirements accordingly. While all the above are met, do ensure good ventilation is present.

6-7.instar: water bowl is filled and placed at one corner of the enclosure once every 1-2 weeks. With that, substrate can be bone dry or you may choose to have 1/4 of the surface area dampened.

As for your last question..
HH are usually impressive hunters.. unless she is going through the pre-molt phase.. or she has attained adulthood and nicely fatten up... standing by to pop you some babies

GS, thanks for your response great info... thanks a lot ... also, as fair as H.H going into pre-molt i can never tell with H.H they always seen to get fat lol

Quote :

My preference as follows:
2-5.instar: one side of the enclosure is to be misted lightly, you may choose to slightly dampen 1/3 of the substrate's surface area. This will give her the alternative to regulate her humidity requirements accordingly. While all the above are met, do ensure good ventilation is present.

Is this done weekly? i do this weekly.

Joey wrote:

GS wrote:

My preference as follows:
2-5.instar: one side of the enclosure is to be misted lightly, you may choose to slightly dampen 1/3 of the substrate's surface area. This will give her the alternative to regulate her humidity requirements accordingly. While all the above are met, do ensure good ventilation is present.

Is this done weekly? i do this weekly.

Apologies, miss out on the time interval. Yes, the above is done on a weekly basis. You are on track!

Alright, thanks for all your help.... now the onlything i need to do is find someone that will trade me there female Rhopalurus junceus for my male so i have a breeding pair

Alright, its been about 2 and a half weeks and i am getting concerned none of my scorpions are eating the h.hottentottas and the rhopalurus junceus the scorpion that are eating is my Pandinus imperators.....i leave pre killed super worms in there i've tried giving them live super worms i've tried meal worms i cant seem to figure it out my temps are 80-90 my humility is 50-70% .. i just cant seem to figure it out

Are they in pre-molt condition? I have had scorpions in pre-molt go off food for several weeks prior to molting. When you feed them very well that get quite fat and develop their new exo under the old. They have to fast in order to be lithe enough to wriggle out of their tight small exo, hence the fasting. If it's super fat the fast will last longer. At this point I would also offer a "permanent" moist corner. Nothing crazy, but a constant source of moisture.

Well in the picture above is how fat they and they are 4-5 instar.. they thinned out a lot but my 2 male rhopalurus junceus adults arent eating and i am thinking its do to there males not sure about that..

Yeah man. males will go off food for a while. They'll stuff themselves and fast, then stuff/fast over and over. I wouldn't worry as long as temps are good, and moisture is available. Also, i4-i5 H.h. should be able to drink from a shallow dish. They are large enough to break the waters surface tension and won't drown.

I'm going to say you are at about i5 right now with that one. My i5 is about the same size, maybe a little larger.

Alright... i don't remember them taking this long to molt lol

The molts will gradually take longer and longer as they mature. From i4 to i5 took mine almost three months.

Alright... i guess all i can do is water them once a week and wait =/

They will be fine I'm sure.

I am sure thanks for the help

Absolutely sir.